XRP, PEPE and Internet Computer Seen as Top Crypto Picks for Early 2026 Rally
Analyst roundup highlights XRP, PEPE and Internet Computer (ICP) as leading altcoin picks for January 2026 amid falling Bitcoin dominance and improving macro outlook. XRP (XRP) — market cap > $130bn — is promoted as a payments-focused token benefiting from institutional adoption and recent spot XRP ETF launches; currently near $2.15 after a record $3.65 in 2025, analysts say further ETF approvals and macro tailwinds could push it toward $5 by Q2 and higher later in the year. PEPE (PEPE) — a top meme coin with ~ $2.8bn market cap — traded around $0.00000665 after a recent 12% one-day rally but remains ~76% below its late-2024 high; RSI near 67 signals possible short-term overbought conditions though strong support sits at $0.000005. Internet Computer (ICP) — positioned as a blockchain for fully on‑chain apps — is trading near $3.82 and has surged ~18% in 24 hours and ~35% in two weeks; reports suggest ICP could rally multiple-fold in a Q1 altcoin recovery, helped by developer activity (eg, Dfinity’s Caffeine AI announcement). The article also profiles presale projects like Bitcoin Hyper (HYPER), a Bitcoin layer-2 built on the Solana Virtual Machine, which claims $30.5m presale raised and offers staking incentives. Risk note: crypto remains high-risk; article is informational, not financial advice.
Bullish
The article frames XRP, PEPE and ICP as prime beneficiaries of a potential early-2026 altcoin rotation driven by lower Bitcoin dominance, ETF inflows (for XRP), developer catalysts (for ICP), and meme-coin momentum (for PEPE). Each pick has clear, trade-relevant drivers: XRP benefits from institutional onramps (spot ETF approvals) and regulatory clarity that historically boost liquidity and price discovery; PEPE’s sharp short-term rallies and established support levels create high-volatility trading setups suitable for momentum or mean-reversion strategies; ICP’s recent news-driven rallies and platform developments create breakout potential if market risk appetite returns. Presale mentions (HYPER) may attract speculative flows post-listing, adding to altcoin bid. Short-term implications: elevated volatility — traders can expect rapid intraday and multi-day moves, RSI and support/resistance levels are actionable signals, and ETF flows could trigger abrupt liquidity shifts in XRP. Long-term implications: if ETF adoption and regulatory clarity progress, XRP could see sustained capital inflows and higher market cap share; ICP’s fundamentals (developer activity, on-chain app adoption) determine durable upside; meme coins remain contingent on social sentiment and broader risk-on cycles. Risks: macro shocks, regulatory setbacks, or failure of token-specific catalysts would reverse gains rapidly. Overall, the piece signals a bullish bias for altcoins but highlights high risk and event-driven volatility, so traders should size positions, use stops, and monitor ETF flows, on-chain metrics, and RSI/momentum indicators.