As Solana price continues to pare off gains, $TAP, DASH, LINK, ZEC, and SUI appear to be the next momentum plays that could outperform SOL in the next cycle.
Market cycles shift attention without warning. One moment, legacy giants dominate crypto news. Next, investors are looking elsewhere, seeking assets that can still move without requiring billions in fresh capital.
This typically occurs when popular cryptocurrencies reach resistance, and their upside potential feels capped. That rotation appears to be forming again. As Solana (SOL) faces limitations tied to size and maturity, newer cryptos, like Digitap ($TAP), are emerging in investor conversations.
Not because of hype, but because its timing and structure appear different from what the market has already priced in. Alongside $TAP, DASH, LINK, ZEC, and SUI are also the next momentum plays.
They appear well positioned to deliver gains and outperform Solana, making them the best altcoins to buy in 2026.
Digitap ($TAP): Its live app and the world’s first omnibank appeal set it apart from other crypto presales that lack underlying utility.
Chainlink (LINK): An established player that still has room for big growth.
Dash (DASH): It focuses on affordable and fast transactions, which could make traditional payment systems obsolete in the next few fews.
Sui (SUI): It’s designed to handle low-latency transactions and high speeds, making it competitive with established players.
Zcash (ZEC): It recently gained momentum as more investors seek privacy and security for their funds.
Digitap ($TAP) Stands Out as the Best Crypto Presale 2025
Digitap sets itself as the most compelling opportunity from this list, as it’s still in its presale while operating a functional product. Unlike many crypto presale projects that promise future products, Digitap’s omnibanking app is live on iOS and Android.
The app allows users to hold fiat and crypto balances on one dashboard, convert assets instantly, and move funds through traditional rails like Faster Payments and SEPA. This comes in handy in a bear market, where users prioritize capital protection and flexibility rather than short-term price spikes.
Additionally, it offers no KYC wallet access for users who want basic functionality without identity checks. However, higher tiers can access cards and offshore banking through regulated partners. This means users can choose how much information they share, rather than being forced into a single model, which resonates with privacy-conscious investors.
Far from that, Digitap has a fixed token supply of 2 billion, which reduces inflation risks, and a buyback-and-burn model that funds staking rewards while simultaneously reducing circulating supply. This creates a loop that many altcoins to buy don’t have.
With close to $3 million raised and a working product, Digitap is widely seen as the best crypto to buy now for investors who are seeking asymmetrical upside before 2026.
Chainlink (LINK) Backbone of Crypto Data
While Chainlink is an established player in the market, many still see it as a promising crypto to buy now. Notably, the Chainlink oracle has become the industry standard, offering important price feeds, weather data, and more.
Applications pay Chainlink for secure price feeds and external data. Meanwhile, traditional banks are increasingly relying on Chainlink’s Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP) to move tokenized assets.
This unique model has positioned Chainlink among the most consistent revenue generators in the market. Currently, Chainlink price is on a downtrend, paring off 7% on its monthly chart to trade at around $12.50.
Even so, many investors still believe it could break out soon. This is after a crypto whale purchased over LINK tokens consecutively in the past two days. The move has effectively absorbed the current selling pressures.
If Chainlink clears its immediate resistance level, it could rally towards $14.5, positioning LINK among the best cryptos to buy long term.
Dash (DASH) Hits 3-Year High Despite Market Challenges
Dash is another cryptocurrency that has been making headlines in the market. The fourth-largest privacy coin by market capitalization has maintained an upward trend despite increased market volatility in the past month.
During this period, the DASH price increased by approximately 190%. On November 2, Dash jumped to $96.9, which was its highest level since May 2022. The move followed an Aster listing, launching DASH perpetual trading with 5x leverage.
Typically, it boosts the token’s visibility and liquidity, which in turn triggers short-term price gains and increased trading activities. However, the DASH price corrected, pushing it towards $44.9.
Investor sentiment remains positive, with 82% of traders are bullish on the token. This optimism is also reflected in its price forecasts, as many traders expect the DASH price to surpass the $100 and $145 levels soon.
Therefore, DASH presents a buy-the-dip opportunity for investors, making it one of the best cryptos to buy now.
Dash Price Action: 1-Year Technical Overview
Over the past year, Dash has traded through a pronounced boom-and-bust cycle, breaking down from early-year lows around $35–$40 before staging a dramatic spike that carried price briefly above the $120 zone. The rally quickly reversed, forming a blow-off top pattern followed by a steady descent marked by lower highs, bringing Dash back toward the $42–$46 support band where it is now consolidating.
This region has emerged as a key battleground, with volume tapering and volatility compressing — signs of stabilization rather than renewed expansion. A decisive reclaim of $55–$60 would be the first signal of trend repair, while losing $40 could reopen the path toward prior cyclical lows.
Sui’s DEX Volume Triples in the Past Week
Sui has also appeared in investor conversations in recent weeks. The network experienced a surge in decentralized exchange (DEX) volume, which sparked renewed interest. It tripled its DEX volume growth in the past week, reflecting a robust ecosystem. This means that protocols are actively contributing to the network’s activity.
It further demonstrates a real builder engagement, which more often than not correlates with sustained token value. For crypto traders, this typically means watching SUI/USDT and SUI/BTC trading pairs on exchanges for breakout patterns.
When such DEX volume surges occur in altcoins, they precede bullish runs. Now, its trading volume becomes a leading indicator for price movements. Additionally, sentiment around SUI’s price is bullish, driven by its efficient infrastructure, which supports high-throughput DeFi applications.
This makes SUI a compelling altcoin to buy for traders who are looking for next-generation blockchains.
Zcash’s Shielded Transactions Jump By 30%
Zcash is another altcoin making waves in the market. After dropping by nearly 10%, Zcash recovered the $400 support level. However, it’s still trading 38% lower than its all-time high of $773 reached in November.
Notably, the current price rebound is supported by several factors. They include increased interest in privacy-focused coins. Many believe this aspect will become a top focus in 2026, with major companies touting privacy as a critical crypto narrative to watch.
Additionally, the rising shielded supply could mean that more people are using Zcash tokens. According to the Zcash dashboard, shielded transactions have jumped by approximately 30%, with nearly 2.24 billion tokens now shielded.
Many ZEC holders are also optimistic that the Grayscale ZEC ETF will be approved in the coming months. If it happens, it might lead to greater institutional inflows, which could support the ZEC price in the long run, making it the best crypto to buy now.
Early Stage Advantage: Why Digitap Stands Out
Many altcoins don’t experience explosive price rallies because of short-term speculation. But as their infrastructure matured, real usage returned, and liquidity followed utility. And Digitap shows all these aspects, despite being in its early stages.
Moreover, over 150 million tokens have been sold on its presale, marking a milestone in community trust and traction. The current price sits at $0.0383, with an expected increase to $0.0399 in just 1 day. Meanwhile, its launch price remains $0.14. This pricing structure provides a clear framework rather than guesswork.
Besides that, its ongoing Holiday campaign is making its presale standout. The event has turned the presale into a daily experience. Every 12 hours, a new offer unlocks on the dashboard, offering large $TAP bonuses to premium upgrades. Some rewards are time-sensitive, while others have limited slots.
This means users need to act quickly before a particular window closes. The move has kept the community engaged, locking in rewards as the presale progresses throughout the new year. This level of engagement is rare in crypto presales and explains why Digitap’s demand is soaring despite the current bear market.
Next Wave of Crypto Adoption is Here
Even though the listed altcoins to buy offer greater long-term prospects, Digitap stands out with its early-stage advantage and real activity through its app. Combined with its ability to generate cash flows from everyday banking activities that return value to its holders, it gives Digitap a structural advantage that most speculative tokens can’t replicate.
