As 2026 begins, investors are looking beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum toward lower-priced assets with greater room to grow. Many established cryptocurrencies have already seen massive appreciation, making it harder to capture outsized returns at current levels.
This shift is why attention is turning to projects trading under $1 that still offer real-world use cases and clear growth narratives. Several of these projects remain far below their previous highs, creating asymmetric risk-reward for investors willing to move early.
From enterprise blockchains and tokenization platforms to high-growth altcoins and viral meme assets, the market is quietly setting up its next wave of winners. For those diversifying an existing portfolio, identifying the best crypto to buy now has become a central strategy.
Top Crypto to Buy Now as Market Rally Pushes Capitalization Beyond $3.18T
The crypto rally remains strong as Bitcoin and major altcoins post sharp gains, pushing total market capitalization beyond $3.18 trillion and opening opportunities among the best crypto to buy now under $1.
These assets often sit at earlier stages of adoption, where price discovery is still unfolding. The following picks focus on cryptocurrencies positioned to benefit from the next major altcoin expansion rather than past market cycles.
Cardano (ADA)
Cardano remains one of the most discussed and widely supported cryptocurrencies, backed by a massive global community. With growing regulatory clarity and its strong U.S. presence, the network continues expanding through new applications and real-world use cases.
Despite this progress, the asset remains far below its previous peak, trading near $0.30 compared to its 2021 high of almost $3. This pricing gap alone suggests significant upside potential as market momentum builds.
Reaching its former valuation would represent nearly a tenfold return from current levels. With ongoing development and expanding adoption, Cardano is positioned as a major contender in the next market cycle.
Dogecoin (DOGE)
Dogecoin enters 2026 with growing attention after a long consolidation phase that often precedes major price moves. Historical patterns suggest current conditions could be setting up another breakout.
With $DOGE trading near$0.12, even a return to its previous peak around $0.73 would represent substantial upside. Additional optimism surrounds growing speculation that $DOGE could play a key role in upcoming payment infrastructure linked to X and its planned financial ecosystem.
Elon Musk’s continued influence and support remain powerful catalysts for broader adoption. If these developments align, Dogecoin reaching $1 in 2026 would mark a transformative milestone for the asset and its long-term valuation.
Hedera (HBAR)
Hedera stands out as one of the leading enterprise-focused blockchain networks, actively partnering with major global corporations such as Google, IBM, LG, and T-Mobile. Its core mission is to connect large organizations through blockchain technology.
Source – Hedera Foundation via X
Despite this strong institutional foundation, $HBAR continues to trade near $0.13, well below its previous 2021 highs around $0.50–$0.60. That gap suggests significant upside potential as broader adoption accelerates.
Even a return to former peak levels would represent roughly a 5x increase from current prices. With expanding enterprise integration and rising blockchain demand, Hedera is positioned as one of the best crypto to buy now under $1.
Stellar (XLM)
Stellar continues to stand out as one of the most compelling under-$1 crypto, currently trading around $0.24. Designed as a global payments network, $XLM operates similarly to XRP, enabling fast, low-cost cross-border transactions for individuals, institutions, and enterprises.
With an all-time high near $1, the current price places XLM at nearly a fivefold discount relative to its previous peak. Market conditions suggest that a return toward former highs is increasingly plausible as adoption of blockchain-based payments accelerates.
Strong network fundamentals and expanding real-world utility strengthen its long-term outlook. For investors seeking scalable financial infrastructure plays, Stellar presents a rare combination of low entry price and high growth potential.
Bitcoin Hyper (HYPER)
Beyond established coins, Bitcoin Hyper presale is emerging as one of the best crypto to buy now under $1. Its fast Layer-2 network unlocks low-fee transactions and new capabilities for Bitcoin.
Through a secure bridging system, users deposit Bitcoin to a monitored address and receive an equivalent amount on the Layer-2, allowing full participation in decentralized applications without leaving the Bitcoin ecosystem.
Source – Borch Crypto YouTube Channel
This design supports payments, meme coins, decentralized exchanges, lending, borrowing, staking, and yield strategies directly around Bitcoin itself. Withdrawals remain trustless and straightforward, with cryptographic verification ensuring funds return safely to the main Bitcoin network.
The project has already raised around $30 million, with each token priced at $0.01354. As adoption expands, Bitcoin Hyper positions itself as a transformational infrastructure layer capable of redefining how Bitcoin is actually used.
Visit Bitcoin Hyper
Ondo (ONDO)
Ondo is emerging as one of the most influential tokenization platforms in the crypto sector, bringing real-world assets such as gold, equities, bonds, treasuries, and real estate onto the blockchain.
The project is already working with major institutions, global corporations, and government-linked entities, including industry giants like BlackRock and State Street.
This level of institutional adoption positions Ondo as a critical bridge between traditional finance and decentralized markets. Currently trading around $0.44, $ONDO remains significantly below its recent all-time high near $2, suggesting substantial upside potential.
As tokenization adoption accelerates globally, Ondo stands to benefit directly from rising demand for compliant on-chain financial infrastructure. Many analysts believe this momentum could fuel a powerful growth phase throughout 2026.
Kaspa (KAS)
Kaspa has positioned itself as one of the best crypto to buy now under $1 after launching during the 2022 bear market and delivering extraordinary early growth. Its price climbed from roughly $0.002 to over $0.20, marking a dramatic multi-thousand-percent surge in a relatively short time.
Following that rally, Kaspa experienced a significant pullback to around $0.050, creating what many view as a compelling accumulation zone. Historically, assets that complete such deep corrections after explosive runs often attract renewed interest before major breakouts.
With continued network development and growing adoption, Kaspa retains strong momentum potential moving into 2026. If its growth trajectory continues, even a conservative rebound could generate substantial upside from current levels.
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Source: https://en.cryptonomist.ch/2026/01/07/best-crypto-to-buy-now-top-coins-under-1-for-the-next-bull-run/
