Web 3 Journalist
Tim Hakki
Share
Yesterday, Bitcoin kicked off another strong uptrend, pulling several top-performing altcoins higher with it. Many are hoping this will be the end of a long downturn triggered shortly after the world’s favourite cryptocurrency set a new all-time high (ATH) of $126,080 on October 6. In the weeks that followed, BTC sank to a seven-month low of $82,000 on November 21.
Yesterday, the broader crypto market climbed 6%, lifting total market capitalization to roughly $3.24 trillion. Today, the rally is cooling off with a 0.7% intraday rise to $3.27 trillion, although crypto bulls hope this is a rest point rather than a retreat.
Additionally, in a bull market, Bitcoin is likely to lose dominance to strong altcoins. So, with that in mind, here’s why XRP, Pepe, and Zcash are the best crypto to buy now.
XRP ($XRP): Driving Innovation in Global Settlement Systems
Ripple’s XRP ($XRP) dominates the cross-border settlement arena thanks to its rapid transaction throughput and low fees. Ripple positions the XRP Ledger as an on-chain alternative to legacy banking rails like SWIFT.
Reports from institutions like the UN Capital Development Fund and the White House have drawn attention to Ripple’s XRPLedger, while a growing roster of fintech partners has helped XRP secure its place as the third-largest non-stablecoin, boasting a market cap exceeding $131 billion.
Ripple’s introduction of RLUSD, a USD-backed stablecoin, signals the company’s broader plan to lead the next era of international payments. Each transfer of RLUSD on the XRPL burns a small amount of XRP, gradually reducing supply and tightening the connection between XRP’s utility and long-term valuation.
XRP finally broke out after the conclusion of a five-year legal battle with the SEC this year, hitting a new high of $3.65 in July. However, its current price of around $2.17 marks a retracement of 40% since then.
With its relative strength index (RSI) now at 54 and price action aligning with its 30-day moving average, XRP appears to be regaining strength. The recent rollout of nine XRP ETFs in the U.S. is expected to introduce a wave of institutional demand throughout the Christmas period.
Further ETF approvals are anticipated, and if Congress manages to pass comprehensive crypto legislation before the year closes, many analysts believe XRP could realistically pursue $10 or more by 2026.
Pepe (PEPE): The Internet’s Most Recognizable Frog Eyes Another Breakout
Pepe ($PEPE) debuted in April 2023 and rapidly climbed the meme coin ranks, drawing on the global popularity of Matt Furie’s well-loved Boy’s Club character of the same name.
The token now commands a market cap above $2 billion and enjoys widespread cultural recognition. Elon Musk even swapped his X profile image for a Pepe meme at one point, igniting speculation about his potential position in the coin. It is known that he holds Bitcoin and Dogecoin.
Currently priced around $0.0000048, PEPE sits nearly 83% below its late-2024 high of $0.00002803 after a slow summer and muted fourth quarter.
With the RSI climbing above 67, buying momentum appears to be building ahead of the weekend.
Currently hovering near its lowest valuation in nearly two years, Pepe’s current value poses a strategic entry point for those who want the high-upside potential meme coin experience on the next bull run.
Expectations for clearer U.S. regulatory guidance could revive investor appetite across crypto. Such an environment would provide PEPE with the momentum needed to revisit its previous all-time high before the end of the year.
Zcash (ZEC): Privacy Pioneer Rockets Over 1,400% in 12 Months
Zcash ($ZEC), introduced in 2016 as a confidentiality-focused fork of Bitcoin, remains one of the most advanced privacy coins on the market.
ZEC employs zk-SNARKs, or state-of-the-art zero-knowledge cryptography that validates transactions without exposing sender, recipient, or transaction details. Users can select transparent or shielded addresses, creating flexibility for both privacy and compliance advocates.
Zcash has surged 377% over the last year. Now trading near $362 with a market cap around $6 billion, ZEC accounts for just over a third of the privacy-coin sector’s roughly $16 billion valuation.
With its RSI near 48 and climbing, buying momentum could build over the weekend, pushing the price higher in a short time. If December proves to be bullish, Zcash could easily run toward $2,500 before year’s end.
Bitcoin Hyper (HYPER): Where Meme Culture Meets Advanced Bitcoin Layer-2 Scaling
Among the emerging projects drawing early attention ahead of 2026 is Bitcoin Hyper ($HYPER), a Bitcoin layer-2 network packaged in a meme-inspired brand. Beyond its playful exterior, HYPER aims to dramatically enhance Bitcoin’s performance with high-speed transactions, ultra-low fees, and full smart-contract support.
Built using the Solana Virtual Machine (SVM), the project integrates decentralized governance and a Canonical Bridge that enables frictionless Bitcoin movement across multiple chains.
The presale has already attracted roughly $29 million in funding, and analyst Borch Crypto suggests the token could climb as much as 100× once publicly listed.
A recent Coinsult audit found zero smart-contract vulnerabilities, reinforcing investor trust. The HYPER token underpins network fees, staking, and governance, with early presale participants earning returns up to 40% APY.
With Bitcoin Hyper’s full launch planned for 2026, both Bitcoin veterans and newcomers have a rare opportunity to position themselves early in what may become a major extension of Bitcoin’s real-world utility.
Visit the official presale website or follow Bitcoin Hyper on X and Telegram for more information.
Visit the Official Website Here
