Ethereum (ETH) in 2025 rose 66% to nearly $5,000 in the third quarter ahead of Fusaka’s December scaling update, and Standard Chartered forecasts $8,000 by 2026 if demand for games and tokens increases.
Solana ( SOL ) rallied 35% last quarter on institutional ETF filings (Fidelity, Invesco, Grayscale) and $1.65 billion. USD Treasury Fund, and the latest update has reduced the transaction time to 0.15 seconds.
XRP is up 347% year-to-date after gaining legal clarity, and Ripple’s new RLUSD stablecoin expands utility beyond remittances, but broader adoption depends on bank partnerships.
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Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) 2025 the rally has set the bar high, but some altcoins are showing momentum that could continue into 2026. Historically, BTC often loses its dominance during the “alt season” when bull cycles mature.
Several large-cap crypto projects now have price momentum and network upgrades that analysts say could help them surpass Bitcoin’s gains in 2026. We examine the best of 2026. altcoins based on current 2025 Q4 data and expert analysis to understand why these coins could lead the market next year.
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Ethereum has returned to all-time highs following new institutional streams and network upgrades. in 2025 ETH jumped 66% to just under $5,000 in the third quarter as Treasury purchases and the launch of the first Ether ETF markets fueled demand.
Fusaka’s major scaling upgrade planned for December aims to reduce fees and increase transaction throughput. This upgrade will strengthen Ethereum’s role as the foundation for decentralized finance.
ETH cost of standard outsourcing projects until 2026. may reach $8,000 due to increased demand for gaming and asset marking. As Ethereum’s utility and appeal increases along with institutional adoption, it may outperform Bitcoin during the next phase of the cycle.
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Solana becomes the leader after a few months. According to CoinDesk indexes, SOL grew 35% last quarter thanks to large-scale institutional buying and record ecosystem revenues.
Major asset managers including Fidelity, Invesco and Grayscale have filed for Solana’s first ETFs, which if approved could spark major inflows. Meanwhile, venture heavyweights allocated $1.65 billion. USD to Solana’s new treasury fund to buy and split SOL. Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan compares this strategy to Bitcoin in 2024.
In terms of technology, Solana’s latest update has reduced transaction times from 12 seconds to 0.15 seconds, making it one of the fastest and cheapest blockchains in the world. Due to its high performance (no need for layer 2 plugins), Solana can handle everything from stablecoins to DeFi.
Although its market cap is still only a fraction of Bitcoin, Solana due to limited supply, institutional support through ETPs and technical capabilities in 2026. can challenge Bitcoin.
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XRP is riding its strongest momentum in years following Ripple’s major win. At the start of the fourth quarter, the altcoin was up roughly 347% year-to-date, finally emerging from the shadow of the SEC lawsuit. With US courts confirming that XRP is not a security and regulators dropping further appeals, XRP’s biggest hurdle has been cleared.
The focus is now on network development. Ripple has launched a new US dollar stablecoin (RLUSD) XRP Ledger, and its rapid global adoption could bring more DeFi activity to the XRP ecosystem. Analysts note that this could enhance XRP’s usefulness beyond remittances, as the protocols integrate a stablecoin that is on the XRP chain.
If Ripple’s banking partners and fintech clients continue to use XRP for international payments (an area the company has long targeted), demand for the token could increase regardless of the Bitcoin cycle. As the legal uncertainty fades and new use cases emerge, XRP has a solid path to surpassing Bitcoin, especially if the broader crypto markets take off in 2026.
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Rounding out the list is Chainlink. Investment bank Jefferies recently called Chainlink a “critical infrastructure” for Wall Street’s cryptocurrency integration. Jefferies noted that LINK secures more than $100 billion in assets across more than 2,500 projects and counts Swift, DTCC and JPMorgan as its partners.
Chainlink’s new Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP) allows banks to transact across blockchain networks. Swiss banking giant UBS just tested Chainlink’s CCIP with Swift for tokenized fund transfers, a major milestone that sent LINK’s price up in October.
As real asset tokenization increases and interbank blockchain trials move from pilot to production, demand for Chainlink services will grow. The increase in demand may contribute to the rise of LINK in 2026, as the token will be used to pay for these services.
Ethereum, Solana, XRP, and Chainlink all have high-potential catalysts for major rallies in 2026.
Ethereum and Solana have already recovered or are approaching historic price highs. XRP has shown how quickly sentiment can turn once legal hurdles fall. Chainlink shows that mid-cap tokens can also ride the bull wave due to real utility and network growth.
If the current forecasts are confirmed, in 2025-2026 cycle may be one of the most dynamic periods for cryptocurrencies. Track ETF approvals, network updates, and institutional adoption. These three factors will determine which altcoins will lead the next bull run.
