The most exciting thing about cryptocurrency investments is how they can skyrocket in value. Case in point: In 2025, privacy coin Zcash (ZEC +9.33%) surged by 1,870%. Because of the massive potential returns, many investors want to find the next cryptocurrency to explode.
Image source: The Motley Fool.
The volatility of cryptocurrency can work for you or against you. Prices can fall just as quickly, as investors have seen recently. It’s also impossible to know which cryptocurrency will go on a hot streak next. However, we can pick out some possible candidates, especially with so many coins trading well below their all-time highs.
Five cryptocurrencies to explode in 2026
Here are the cryptocurrencies that could be due for a significant bull run:
1. Bittensor
Today’s Change
(2.87%) $5.59
Current Price
$200.15
Key Data Points
Market Cap
$1.9B
Day’s Range
$190.93 – $201.98
52wk Range
$144.32 – $535.12
Volume
149M
AI stocks have delivered explosive growth in recent years, and AI cryptocurrencies could do the same. Bittensor (TAO +2.87%) is a leading candidate, as it’s an open-source, decentralized AI network. Miners on the network earn TAO tokens by running models that accurately perform AI work, such as text generation and data scraping.
Like market leader Bitcoin (BTC +3.45%), Bittensor has a hard cap of 21 million TAO tokens and a halving cycle to its rewards. This limits the flow of new tokens into circulation and creates built-in scarcity. A legitimate use case related to AI and successful tokenomics have made Bittensor an exciting crypto investment.
2. Solana
Today’s Change
(3.09%) $2.59
Current Price
$86.48
Key Data Points
Market Cap
$49B
Day’s Range
$83.89 – $87.36
52wk Range
$70.61 – $252.78
Volume
4.3B
Solana (SOL +3.19%) is a blockchain platform with smart contract capabilities. It’s one of Ethereum‘s (ETH +2.21%) biggest competitors and is famous for its blazing-fast speeds, processing thousands of transactions per second, and transaction fees that cost a fraction of a cent.
Since Solana can run smart contracts, it has a wide range of uses and revenue streams. Analysis by 21Shares, an asset management firm, found that Solana generated $2.85 billion in revenue over the 12-month period from October 2024 to September 2025. Meme coin activity was a big part of that, but additional revenue sources included trading tools, decentralized finance (DeFi), and AI apps.
Today’s Change
(2.41%) $0.03
Current Price
$1.39
Key Data Points
Market Cap
$85B
Day’s Range
$1.35 – $1.42
52wk Range
$1.14 – $3.65
Volume
2.6B
Ripple, a blockchain payments company, launched XRP (XRP +2.41%) in 2012, making it one of the oldest cryptocurrencies. It’s designed to work with Ripple’s payments network, which provides fast and affordable cross-border payments. XRP serves as a bridge currency for international payments, so banks don’t need to have accounts funded with various currencies.
Ripple had been locked in a lawsuit with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) since 2020 over allegations that XRP was an unregistered security. In August 2025, the SEC ended the lawsuit. With no more regulatory issues looming, Ripple can focus on expanding its list of banking partners and growing XRP.
4. Chainlink
Today’s Change
(2.60%) $0.23
Current Price
$9.05
Key Data Points
Market Cap
$6.4B
Day’s Range
$8.81 – $9.14
52wk Range
$7.40 – $27.70
Volume
370M
Smart Contracts
Programs written on the blockchain that self-execute when certain conditions are met.
On their own, blockchains are disconnected from the real world and lack access to real-world data. Chainlink (LINK +2.60%) bridges the gap, serving as an oracle platform that provides the infrastructure to let blockchains securely access external data.
Tokenized real-world assets, or RWAs, are an example of why this matters. Several blockchains now have tokenized versions of stocks and other assets. For tokenized RWAs to work, the blockchain needs data from the outside world on the current values of those assets.
Chainlink scored a big win in August 2025 when it began working with the U.S. Department of Commerce to bring government economic data to public blockchains. It’s a clear sign that Chainlink is the oracle platform of choice and will serve a crucial role in the future of the crypto market. The SEC also approved the first spot Chainlink exchange-traded fund (ETF) in January 2026.
5. Monero
Today’s Change
(-0.23%) $-0.80
Current Price
$344.27
Key Data Points
Market Cap
$6.3B
Day’s Range
$340.48 – $350.89
52wk Range
$186.14 – $796.09
Volume
83M
Privacy coins have been gaining popularity. This type of cryptocurrency has privacy-enhancing features to make transaction tracing more difficult. Zcash isn’t the only option here — Monero (XMR -0.23%) is one of the first privacy coins, and according to the Monero website, transactions are confidential and untraceable.
As governments pass more crypto regulations, a subset of users will likely prefer to keep their activity private. Monero could be a long-term winner due to its privacy features. There have been no public reports of anyone cracking it.
Should you consider investing in the next crypto that explodes?
It’s tempting to look for the next big cryptocurrency. Even though you could see incredible returns this way, there are a few serious downsides:
- It’s extremely risky. Most cryptocurrencies don’t succeed. CoinGecko research found that more than 50% of cryptocurrencies have stopped trading. Small cryptocurrencies have more growth potential but are also more likely to fail.
- It’s time-consuming. You need to spend quite a bit of time reviewing cryptocurrencies to make educated investments. Otherwise, you’re throwing darts at the wall.
- The crypto market is highly unpredictable. Your carefully researched investment could go nowhere, while a practically useless meme coin goes to the moon.
Keep your expectations — and the amount you invest — very low. You might also want to put some of your money into cryptocurrency stocks or large-cap coins, such as Bitcoin, to balance out the risk.
What makes a cryptocurrency ready to explode?
The main factors that can cause a cryptocurrency to rapidly increase in value are:
- Positive news about the cryptocurrency.
- A low market cap.
- Unique features.
- Buying activity from crypto whales or influencers.
- High liquidity.
Key trends in the crypto industry
Cryptocurrency is becoming increasingly integrated with the global financial system. SEC approval of crypto ETFs, starting with the first spot Bitcoin ETFs in January 2024, has driven institutional investments in several of the leading cryptocurrencies. Major financial institutions are adopting blockchain technology and crypto tokens, most notably stablecoins, for cross-border payments.
The crypto industry has benefited from the political climate. In March 2025, President Trump signed an executive order to establish cryptocurrency reserves. In July, the U.S. passed the Genius Act, the country’s first major crypto legislation.
However, the crypto market remains extremely volatile. The total crypto market cap plummeted from $4.3 trillion in October 2025 to $2.2 trillion in early 2026.
What to look for in a booming crypto
When you’re evaluating a booming crypto, start with its real-world utility. Consider the uses for it and the problems it aims to solve. A good place to find this information is in the cryptocurrency’s whitepaper, typically found on its website. Here are a few more important items you can use to evaluate a cryptocurrency:
- Leadership: Check who’s behind the project, their qualifications, and their experience.
- Notable attributes: This could be anything that makes a cryptocurrency stand out from the competition, such as Bittensor’s open-source AI network or Solana’s speed.
- Total value locked (TVL): For blockchains with smart contract capabilities, TVL shows you how much value is on a blockchain. It’s a good measure of which blockchains people are using.
- Number of users: This metric provides an indication of a blockchain’s popularity.
There’s no guarantee that a booming cryptocurrency will maintain its momentum. But those factors can help you determine whether a cryptocurrency has genuine value or is just designed to enrich the developers behind it.
Related investing topics
Booming cryptocurrencies FAQ
Lyle Daly has positions in Bitcoin, Chainlink, Ethereum, Monero, and Solana. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Bitcoin, Chainlink, Ethereum, Solana, and XRP. The Motley Fool recommends Monero. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.