8 Cryptos with Strong Catalysts to Watch for in 2026

Updated

December 27, 2025

Gambar 8 Cryptos with Strong Catalysts to Watch for in 2026

Jakarta, Pintu News – As investors look ahead to 2026, many are asking a fundamental question: which altcoins have the best chance of performing well in the next cycle?

An expert has categorized the most powerful opportunities into four major themes. Each category includes two altcoins, making a total of eight coins worth watching ahead of 2026.

Compliance-Ready Crypto Projects

Regulation is expected to improve in the next year, especially in the United States. Clearer rules could reduce legal risks, attract large investors, and bring more funds into the crypto market.

1. Chainlink (LINK)

Chainlink stands out for having strong relationships with policymakers and financial institutions. The project’s founders have had discussions with US lawmakers, attended Federal Reserve events, and met with important political figures.

Chainlink plays a major role in connecting the traditional financial system with blockchain technology. Many investors believe that the project will benefit greatly when regulations become clearer.

2. Aave (AAVE)

Aave is one of the leading DeFi lending platforms. Aave’s founders have had meetings with officials from the White House, SEC, and Federal Reserve.

Although Aave is currently facing some internal governance issues, the platform is still capable of generating strong revenues. Its token price has fallen sharply, which some investors see as a long-term opportunity if the project manages to stabilize again.

Artificial Intelligence Coins

Artificial intelligence (AI) is now one of the most important sectors in the world of technology. Governments and large institutions are investing heavily in this field, and AI-related crypto projects are gaining traction.

3. Bittensor (TAO)

Bittensor (TAO) combines artificial intelligence technology with a token economy model similar to Bitcoin . The project has a fixed token supply and has just completed its first halving event, which reduces the amount of new token issuance.

Historically, Bitcoin halvings have often been followed by strong price movements. Bittensor proponents believe that TAO could benefit from a similar narrative, especially as demand for AI technology continues to rise.

4. Virtuals Protocol (VIRTUAL)

Virtuals (VIRTUAL) focuses on developing AI agents and is currently the leader in its category by revenue. Based on DeFi data, the project has few competitors in its field.

Its token price is at an important support level, while the project is already generating real revenue. This makes Virtuals one of the most talked about AI-based crypto projects heading into 2026.

Revenue-Generating Crypto Projects

Investors are increasingly paying attention to crypto projects that actually generate revenue from users. A stable source of revenue can provide additional resilience, especially during market downturns.

5. Hyperliquid (HYPE)

Hyperliquid (HYPE) is a decentralized trading platform that has become one of the biggest revenue generators in the crypto world. Most of its revenue is used to buy back their own tokens.

Despite its strong fundamentals, its token price has recently experienced a decline. Some analysts think this could be an attractive entry opportunity if trading activity continues to increase.

6. Jupiter (JUP)

Jupiter (JUP) is the main decentralized exchange aggregator on the Solana network. The project generates millions of dollars every month, even though its token price has fallen sharply.

The token unlock process adds to the selling pressure, but upcoming system updates and plans to launch new stablecoins are expected to improve market sentiment in the medium term.

DePIN and Infrastructure Projects

DePIN stands for Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks – that is, decentralized physical infrastructure networks. These projects support real-world services such as wireless networks, computing power, and data storage.

As AI infrastructure develops, the demand for such networks is expected to increase.

7. Helium (HNT)

Helium focuses on decentralized wireless connectivity. The project’s revenue has been growing over the past year, and the token is now deflationary (its supply decreases over time).

The Helium network is also expanding into new markets such as Brazil, potentially increasing adoption and usage rates globally.

8. Solana (SOL)

While Solana is not a DePIN project directly, it is home to many of the largest DePIN platforms. Solana remains the flagship blockchain for infrastructure-based crypto projects.

After a long price correction, experts assess that Solana is now nearing the end of its downward phase and could potentially benefit from the growth of its ecosystem.

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*Disclaimer

This content aims to enrich readers’ information. Pintu collects this information from various relevant sources and is not influenced by outside parties. Note that an asset’s past performance does not determine its projected future performance. Crypto trading activities have high risk and volatility, always do your own research and use cold cash before investing. All activities of buying and selling bitcoin and other crypto asset investments are the responsibility of the reader.

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