Investors are probably hoping for a positive year next year as another year draws to a conclusion. Bitcoin usually leads the altcoins, but some tokens have found their own way.
The crypto market has stayed mostly neutral to cautiously hopeful since January 2026. Even while things are still volatile, the general stability is supported by better macroeconomic conditions and a steady growth in institutional investment.
Monero (XMR)
Monero’s price is still very near to its all-time high, hovering just 17.5 percent below $519. A breakout over this level would produce a new record. Relative strength shows that demand is still strong, as XMR continues to do better than many large-cap cryptocurrencies during this market cycle.
Monero is getting more popular as people become more interested in cryptocurrencies that protect anonymity. This story has gotten stronger because of disputes about rules and users’ need for privacy in financial matters. Chaikin Money Flow shows that a lot of money is coming in. These things could push XMR over $450 and closer to the $500 psychological mark, which is an important step towards $519.
If profit-taking picks up before a breakout, there is still a chance of losing money. A significant amount of selling pressure could cause XMR to fall below the $417 support level. If the breakdown is verified, losses might go as low as $387, wiping away recent gains and making the short-term optimistic forecast meaningless.
ETH (Ethereum)
Ethereum is still about 66.7 percent behind its all-time high of $4,956, which shows how much more it needs to recover. Under the current circumstances, a quick, miracle-like rally doesn’t seem likely. Recent price movements show that ETH requires more demand and alignment with the larger market before it can make a real upward rise.
Ethereum temporarily rose to a new high in August, but it doesn’t look like it will be able to do it again anytime soon. Any comeback could take weeks and needs steady support from investors. A clear breach above the $3,000 psychological level is very important. If it succeeds, ETH might rise to $3,287, which would bring it closer to its all-time high.
Solana
Solana keeps getting attention because of how well it does when risk is high. When traders look at the top cryptocurrencies to invest in, they often include Solana since it reacts swiftly to new capital coming in.
Solana’s speed and low costs make it easy to use, which keeps it relevant with Bitcoin and new initiatives like DeepSnitch AI. Even when the market is doing well, institutions are still buying SOL ETFs.
Since October, SOL ETFs have brought in more than $1.34 billion. It brought in $7.5 million last week, whereas BTC lost $443 million in the same time period. Analysts think this is a good sign and predict that the price will climb towards $125. This makes Solana one of the best choices for growing your portfolio.