Top Crypto Picks for January 20: XRP, Dogecoin, and PEPE Lead the Charge

Crypto markets surge as three digital assets defy traditional finance skepticism. While Wall Street analysts debate 'meme stock' valuations, decentralized networks quietly build momentum.

XRP: The Regulatory Warrior

Ripple's legal battles reshape the entire crypto landscape—every court decision sends shockwaves through exchange listings and institutional adoption. The token doesn't just trade; it fights.

Dogecoin: The People's Currency

What began as a joke now moves billions. Dogecoin's community-driven rallies continue baffling economists who still can't explain why a Shiba Inu mascot outperforms their carefully crafted portfolios.

PEPE: The Meme Coin Dark Horse

This frog-themed token proves cultural resonance sometimes beats technical whitepapers. While traditional investors search for 'fundamental value,' PEPE demonstrates that internet culture creates its own economics.

These assets share one crucial trait: they operate outside legacy systems. XRP challenges regulatory frameworks, Dogecoin mocks monetary policy, and PEPE bypasses venture capital entirely. Their growth exposes how traditional finance struggles to value community-driven networks—a delightful irony as bankers pay consultants millions to understand what crypto Twitter figures explain in 280 characters.

XRP (XRP): Payments-Focused Blockchain Targets Fresh Q1 Momentum

With a market cap north of $120 billion, Ripple’s XRP ($XRP) leads in cross-border on-chain payments, combining near-instant settlement with minimal transaction costs.

The XRP Ledger (XRPL) was built with banks and financial institutions in mind, positioning it as a streamlined and cheaper alternative to slow and costly legacy systems like SWIFT.

Ripple’s technology has also attracted attention from high-profile institutions, including the United Nations Capital Development Fund and the WHITE House, highlighting its growing relevance beyond the crypto industry.

XRP reached a record high of $3.65 in mid-2025 after Ripple finally settled its protracted legal dispute with the SEC. Since then, the token has pulled back by around 46% amid a broader downturn and is now hovering at $1.97.

It’s unlikely to remain below $2 for long. A notable recent development was the US launch of spot XRP exchange-traded funds (ETFs), opening the door for traditional investors to gain regulated exposure to XRP.

Further ETF approvals, combined with supportive regulation, could push XRP toward $5 by the second quarter, with $10 being a reasonable 2026 peak.

Dogecoin (DOGE): Will the Doge Army Ever See $1 DOGE?

Dogecoin ($DOGE), which debuted in 2013, perennially holds the crown as the largest meme coin, powered by one of the most dedicated communities in crypto. What began as a joke now carries a market capitalization of roughly $21.5 billion.

Its dramatic surge during the 2021 bull run, amplified by endorsements from celebrities such as Elon Musk, Snoop Dogg, and Gene Simmons, secured Dogecoin’s place in popular culture.

Despite its humorous origins, Dogecoin’s size and liquidity have helped temper the volatility that plagues smaller meme tokens. As a result, DOGE often behaves more like market leaders like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP.

The long-running MANTRA “Dogecoin to $1” continues to rally supporters. However, achieving that milestone in 2026 may prove challenging without meaningful regulatory progress in the United States.

Should lawmakers make headway, positive market dynamics could lift DOGE from around $0.14 today to approximately $0.50 by spring. That WOULD put it one bull run away from topping its 2021 all-time high of $0.7316.

Real-world usage is also expanding. Tesla accepts DOGE for certain merchandise, and PayPal and Revolut now enable Dogecoin payments.

Pepe (PEPE): The Iconic Webcomic Became One of Crypto’s Most Copied Coins

After launching in April 2023, Pepe ($PEPE) quickly became the third-largest meme coin, driven by the enduring and viral appeal of Matt Furie’s Pepe the Frog.

With a market cap of about $2.2 billion, PEPE is the biggest meme coin not rocking a Shiba Inu-inspired avatar. Elon Musk briefly adopted a Pepe profile picture on X, igniting debate over whether he owned the token.

PEPE is currently trading NEAR $0.000005212 after climbing 28% in the last 30 days. Even so, the price remains roughly 81% below its late-2024 peak of $0.00002803, following a quiet summer and an underwhelming 2025 finale.

The token’s relative strength index (RSI) is downtrending from 58, suggesting neutral buying and selling momentum following a 10% overnight dip after the EU’s tariff threats caused some panic selling across the crypto market.

While that’s a steep dip relative to other cryptos, Pepe’s 69% rally between December 30 and January 6 demonstrated that PEPE still behaves like a classic meme coin, amplifying wider market movements, both positive and negative.

Bitcoin Hyper (HYPER): Meme Aesthetics Deliver a Serious Bitcoin Upgrade

Under the meme coin hood, bitcoin Hyper ($HYPER) is a high-performance Bitcoin Layer-2 that delivers speed, low fees, and advanced smart contract capabilities.

Built on the Solana Virtual Machine (SVM), Bitcoin Hyper features decentralized governance and a Canonical Bridge enabling smooth cross-chain transfers of Bitcoin.

The presale has already netted $30.8 million, with analysts estimating 10x to 100x returns once the token hits exchanges. A recent audit by Coinsult found no critical issues in the smart contract.

The HYPER token underpins the ecosystem, paying transaction fees, granting holders voting rights in governance proposals, and generating yield through staking.

Stake during the presale to access staking rewards of up to 38% APY, though yields decline as more tokens enter the staking pool.

Slated to hit the open market this year, Bitcoin Hyper offers buyers a gateway into the next iteration of Bitcoin.

Visit the official presale website or follow Bitcoin Hyper on X and Telegram for more information.