Ethereum’s biggest run didn’t start with headlines. In early 2020, ETH traded below $150, with low retail interest, rising network usage, and steady capital accumulation in the background. Over the next 18 months, Ethereum climbed more than 20x, driven by DeFi adoption, stablecoin growth, and real demand.

Today, investors are scanning for similar patterns. The market is volatile, but capital is moving selectively. Projects with working products, expanding user bases, and clear use cases are getting more attention than purely narrative-driven tokens.

Below are five altcoins to buy that are increasingly mentioned as candidates for the next major cycle:

1. Digitap ($TAP): Crypto banking app in presale, focused on cross-border payments
2. Hyperliquid (HYPE): Derivatives platform expanding into prediction markets
3. Morpho (MORPHO): DeFi lending protocol with strong institutional backing
4. Jupiter (JUP): Solana-based DeFi superapp with growing product scope
5. Quant (QNT): Enterprise interoperability project showing technical stabilization

1. Why Digitap’s Timing and Utility Are Drawing Early Interest

Digitap is a crypto presale focused on cross-border payments, with a live platform that makes using crypto feel closer to everyday banking. This innovative project removes much of the complexity that still exists in the crypto space and addresses a gap many analysts see as critical for broader adoption.

With Visa cards in circulation, active iOS and Android apps, and over 120,000 connected wallets handling cross-border transfers, Digitap is showing early signs of real usage. That traction helps explain why $TAP is increasingly mentioned among the best crypto to invest in.

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From an investment angle, timing is central. The presale launched at $0.0125 and is now priced at $0.0467, putting early participants up over 270%. The next price increase to $0.0478 is scheduled in 6 days, and stages have been filling quickly. So far, $5M has been raised, with 212M tokens sold.

The confirmed launch price is $0.14, which keeps upside visible for late-stage presale buyers. As prices step up every few days, the main variable becomes entry timing.

2. Hyperliquid Momentum Builds After HIP-4 Proposal

Hyperliquid has built momentum as a derivatives-first platform. On February 2, the project introduced HIP-4, a proposal to add outcome-based trading, including prediction markets and options-style products.

This expansion matters because 99% of Hyperliquid’s fees are converted into HYPE buybacks, creating a direct link between usage and token demand. Broadening the product set could increase fee volume if adoption follows.

Technically, HYPE remains strong. The token trades above its 7-day and 30-day moving averages, and MACD momentum remains positive. Holding support near the $26 level keeps the current structure intact.

3. Morpho Rebounds as DeFi Lending Activity Grows

Morpho operates in the DeFi lending space, allowing users to earn yield or borrow assets through noncustodial vaults and markets. The protocol has grown into one of the top lending platforms by TVL.

Price action recently showed a rebound from oversold levels, with MORPHO moving back above its short-term average. Longer-term resistance remains, but fundamentals continue to improve. TVL surpassed $8.2B, growing more than 26% month over month during late 2025.

Institutional validation adds weight. Morpho was included in Grayscale’s Top 20 list, and the Ethereum Foundation deployed capital into the protocol. That backdrop supports MORPHO’s role as core DeFi infrastructure.

4. Jupiter Grows Beyond Swaps With New DeFi Tools

Jupiter has become one of the most used DeFi platforms on Solana. It dominates swap routing and continues to expand into perpetuals, DCA tools, portfolio tracking, and lending.

The project recently secured $35M from ParaFi Capital, settled in JupUSD, with extended lockups. JupUSD’s circulating supply nearly doubled to $77M, improving liquidity across Jupiter’s ecosystem.

Jupiter also integrated Polymarket on Solana, adding prediction markets to its suite. While this broadens use cases, it also shifts focus beyond JUP’s core governance role. Scale remains Jupiter’s main advantage.

5. Quant Finds Support After Extended Downtrend

Quant has struggled over longer timeframes but recently stabilized near a major technical level. Price found support around the $69 Fibonacci retracement, and RSI moved out of oversold territory.

The broader market saw a modest bounce, and QNT slightly outperformed that move. However, sentiment remains mixed, and the token is still well below its longer-term averages. A move above the $72–$76 range would be needed to confirm a stronger recovery.

Quant remains a higher-risk enterprise play, but it stays relevant when markets begin to rotate toward infrastructure.

How Investors Are Positioning Ahead of the Next Bull Run

Ethereum’s early run rewarded projects that combined utility, timing, and adoption before the market caught on. Digitap fits this setup the best by being early, active, and focused on a real financial problem. With prices stepping up every few days and adoption metrics already in place, timing matters more here than with fully priced assets.

Hyperliquid, Morpho, Jupiter, and Quant each bring credible narratives. But for investors looking to position ahead of the next cycle rather than react to it, Digitap’s presale structure and live product make it one of the more closely watched altcoins to buy in 2026.

Discover the future of crypto cards with Digitap by checking out their live Visa card project here:

Presale https://presale.digitap.app

Website: https://digitap.app

Social: https://linktr.ee/digitap.app
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