Bitcoin has traded just under $94,000, ending a choppy Q4 as early signs of a rebound emerge and capital begins to diversify into altcoins. Bitcoin’s dominance appears to be waning, with XRP, PEPE, and BONK gaining momentum as 2026 begins.
XRP rose about 17% on ETF optimism, fueling speculation that the token could approach $10 as more spot Bitcoin ETFs win approval and regulatory clarity improves. XRP, developed by Ripple for fast, low-cost cross-border payments, has rallied after the legal dispute with the U.S. SEC subsided last year, trading around $2.19 after a strong run and having previously touched an ATH near $3.65. The approval of five XRP spot ETFs has attracted institutional money, and further ETF approvals and regulatory clarity could lift the price toward $10.
PEPE has surged roughly 68% in the past week, lifting its market cap to about $30 billion and placing it among the top meme coins after DOGE and SHIB. The token trades near $0.00000684, with an RSI around 76 indicating potential overbought conditions and a key support near $0.000006. If the 2026 bull market unfolds, the sector could see new all-time highs in the first quarter.
BONK, a Solana-based meme coin, trades around $0.00001186 with a market cap above $1 billion, positioning itself as the third-largest meme coin within the Solana ecosystem. If the uptrend persists, it could surpass the Trump-themed token; BONK is expanding into real-use cases such as tips, micro-payments, trading bots, and NFT collateral. Key resistance levels are near $0.00003 and $0.00005.
HYPER represents a high-performance Bitcoin layer-2 solution, borrowing meme-coin aesthetics for broader appeal. It runs on a Solana VM, offering high throughput, low fees, and smart-contract functionality, with a bridging feature for cross-chain interoperability. The pre-sale has raised over $30 million, with some analysts projecting up to 100x returns; a security audit found no vulnerabilities, and a staking incentive of up to 39% APY is available. The project is slated for a 2026 release and could be a major catalyst in the next altcoin rally.
As 2026 approaches, Bitcoin’s lead appears to be waning while interest in XRP, PEPE, and BONK grows, supported by ETF approvals, regulatory clarity, and expanding real-world use. Market participants expect continued volatility but see notable upside for these tokens as the broader crypto ecosystem shifts toward altcoin leadership.
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