XRP continues to trade below $2, frustrating investors who expected ETF momentum and legal clarity to unlock a sustained rally.

As XRP and other large-cap prices stall, traders looking for altcoins to buy are rotating into projects offering real utility, predictable upside, and downside protection.

This shift is driving attention toward Digitap ($TAP), a live crypto-banking platform positioned as a defensive crypto presale in a turbulent bear market. With a working product on iOS and Android, revenue-linked token mechanics, and a structured price path, Digitap is increasingly discussed as the best crypto to buy ahead of 2026.

XRP Stuck Below $2 As Momentum Fades

Despite regulatory progress and periodic bursts of optimism, XRP buyers have struggled to push the asset into a sustained uptrend. XRP is still consolidating after a huge rally that started at $0.50 in late 2024, and is finding it hard to break new ground. At around $1.87, its price has barely moved in the past month, despite rising XRP ETF inflows and multiple company acquisitions.

Ripple has already proven to be a fast and low-cost network, with multiple applications for banks and institutions. But its price potential is limited, and it fails to adequately cater to the retail market. The network is designed for large institutions, and the token supply is owned by Ripple Labs. Its corporate structure goes against the ethos of decentralized currencies, and this can be off-putting to those who want more control over their accounts.

As a result, many long-term holders are reallocating away from XRP and other stagnant majors toward high-growth assets with clearer use cases, particularly in the retail market. XRP and other large caps have already seen huge growth that might be hard to replicate again.

Unlike newly-launched assets, the capability of Ripple’s network is already priced into the token. Other banking-focused tokens can offer better upside potential, with a broader appeal and a larger addressable market. For XRP, a 7x is nearly out of the question.

Digitap’s Banking Model Creates A Clear 7x Thesis

Digitap is already live on iOS and Android as a functional omni-bank, merging crypto and fiat in a single account. Users can benefit from withdrawals, deposits, payments, transfers, savings, and swaps, with a single app for all financial requirements. With Visa-compatible card payments, users can earn cashback at point of sale terminals worldwide.

The $TAP token is tied to platform performance. 50% of Digitap’s profits are used for buy-backs and staking rewards, creating continuous demand pressure while reducing circulating supply. With a fixed 2B token cap, holders face no dilution risk, a key concern in volatile markets where teams simply “print” more tokens.

Currently, $TAP is priced at $0.0383, moving next to $0.0399, with a planned launch price of $0.14. This pricing gap underpins the 7x discussion and explains why Digitap is increasingly framed as the best crypto to buy now among utility-focused altcoins, rather than a speculative bet. The difference between the launch price and the current price is nearly 4x.

From here, reaching the 7x from current pricing is entirely feasible, and it could shoot well past this multiplier. Digitap aims to target the billions of globally unbanked as well as the millions of remote work professionals and digital nomads who want control over their accounts, with full crypto integration. A tiered KYC policy allows it to target markets that are outside of Ripple’s reach.

Digitap’s 12-Hour Christmas Sale Adds Urgency

Alongside its core fundamentals, Digitap is running a structured 12 Days of Christmas campaign designed to reward active participants. Every 12 hours, a new festive offer unlocks, ranging from free Premium and PRO account upgrades to limited $TAP token bonuses that disappear once claimed or expired.

The advent-style format encourages consistent engagement, with two daily drops timed for global participation. Some offers are slot-limited, others time-restricted, and several are positioned as one-time rewards that will not return after the campaign ends. This time-restricted style heavily bolsters engagement.

For investors looking for reliable crypto presales during a cautious market, this campaign provides additional value without altering the underlying token economics. It reinforces community momentum while maintaining the disciplined price structure that appeals to longer-term holders scanning altcoins to buy before year-end.

Traders Turning To The Crypto Presale Market In 2026

As assets like XRP continue to consolidate, traders are investigating the crypto presale industry for upside opportunities, particularly those in the banking sector with live products and a demonstrable use case.

Digitap fits this shift precisely. Its working banking infrastructure, structured presale pricing, KYC accessibility, and deflationary mechanics offer a rational alternative for investors seeking altcoins to buy in a lacklustre environment.

As a utility-driven platform that offers extensive banking services, it could easily witness a 7x in 2026, replicating the returns of previous fintech coins such as XRP, XLM, and BNB. This delivered utility is why multiple analysts are recommending $TAP as the best crypto to buy today.