Top Crypto Picks for January 23, 2026: XRP, Solana, and Cardano Lead the Charge

Crypto markets aren't waiting for Wall Street's permission. While traditional finance debates rate cuts, digital asset portfolios are being rebuilt around a new vanguard. Forget the old guard—today's momentum hinges on protocols that execute.

The Scalability Trio

XRP continues its quiet siege on cross-border settlements, bypassing correspondent banking delays with a ledger that settles in seconds. Its legal clarity, hard-won through years of regulatory skirmishes, now acts as armor while others face uncertainty.

Solana's engine hasn't sputtered. The network processes transactions at a pace that makes older chains look geological, attracting developers who prioritize throughput over nostalgia. Ecosystem growth isn't a buzzword here—it's a measurable on-chain reality.

Then there's Cardano. Methodical, peer-reviewed, and often criticized for its pace. Yet its measured build phase is shifting to a deploy era. Smart contract functionality is live, and dApp rollout is accelerating, proving sometimes the slow burn wins the marathon.

Let's be cynical for a second: in traditional finance, a 'disruptive technology' often means a slightly faster spreadsheet. In crypto, it means reinventing the ledger itself. These assets aren't just trading—they're testing infrastructure. The real question isn't which one will pump next on a meme, but which network will be processing transactions when the legacy system finally admits it needs an upgrade. The bet isn't on a price point; it's on a new financial layer being built in real-time.

XRP (XRP): Payments Blockchain Eyes $5 as Momentum Builds

Ripple’s $119 million market cap XRP ($XRP) is a cornerstone of blockchain-based cross-border payments, offering fast settlement times and minimal transaction costs.

The XRP Ledger (XRPL) was purpose-built for banks and financial institutions, aiming to overhaul slower, more expensive legacy systems like SWIFT.

Ripple’s expanding profile has earned recognition from prominent organizations, including the UN Capital Development Fund and the WHITE House, underscoring XRP’s global and potentially game changing reputation.

Following the resolution of Ripple’s lengthy legal battle with the SEC, XRP surged to an all-time high (ATH) of $3.65 in mid-2025. Since then, broader market weakness has driven a pullback of roughly 46%, with the token now trading NEAR $1.95.

Despite the downturn, XRP may not remain below the $2 mark for long. A key catalyst has been the launch of spot XRP exchange-traded funds in the U.S., providing regulated access for both institutional and retail investors.

Additional ETF approvals, combined with clearer regulatory frameworks, could propel XRP toward the $5 by Q2, while a 2026 bull target of $10 remains plausible.

Solana (SOL): High-Speed Blockchain Poised for New ATH

Solana ($SOL) is one of the best smart contract platforms out there. Known for high throughput and low transaction costs, the solana network supports more than $8.5 billion in total value locked (TVL) and SOL maintains a market cap around $74 billion.

The rollout of Solana spot ETFs by asset managers such as Grayscale and Bitwise has also been instrumental in introducing the asset to TradFi institutional investors.

Trading around $130, SOL currently sits slightly below its 30-day moving average, a technical signal that often precedes a rebound toward trend alignment. A bullish flag pattern that formed in late 2026 could resolve into a strong upward move.

A clear break above resistance near $200 and $275 WOULD open the door for Solana to exceed its ATH of $293.31 and potentially climb past $300 before the end of the quarter.

Solana is also emerging as a key platform for real-world asset tokenization, widely regarded as one of blockchain’s most compelling use cases for institutions. Major players such as BlackRock and Franklin Templeton have used Solana to issue tokenized investment products.

Cardano (ADA): Research-Driven Smart Contract Platform

Cardano ($ADA) was established in 2015 by Charles Hoskinson, a co-founder of Ethereum, and officially launched in 2017.

The ongoing development of this Proof-of-Stake blockchain is grounded in peer-reviewed academic research, an approach that continues to set cardano apart from many competitors in the sector.

With a market value of approximately $13.4 billion and a TVL of $168 million, ADA still has plenty of headroom to grow before competing directly with Solana as the leading alternative to Ethereum.

From a technical perspective, ADA’s Relative Strength Index is hovering near 43. Over the past 24 hours, the token has gained 2%, bringing its price to around $0.365.

The appearance of a bullish falling wedge pattern in late 2026 indicate the possibility of an imminent rally that could, under favorable conditions, help ADA push through local resistance zone to hit $1.20 by the end of Q1.

Additionally, if the CLARITY act is resolved, Cardano could easily revisit its $3.09 ATH before year-end.

Bitcoin Hyper (HYPER): Meme Branding Meets Advanced Bitcoin Layer 2

Bitcoin Hyper ($HYPER) is an emerging bitcoin Layer-2 network focused on accelerating transactions, lowering fees, and enabling advanced smart contract functionality.

Powered by the Solana Virtual Machine, Bitcoin Hyper incorporates decentralized governance and a Canonical Bridge facilitate seamless cross-chain Bitcoin transfers.

The project’s presale has already raised over $30.8 million, with some market commentators projecting potential returns ranging from 10x to 100x once the token becomes available on exchanges. A recent audit conducted by Coinsult reported no critical vulnerabilities in the smart contract.

The HYPER token underpins the ecosystem, serving as the medium for transaction fees, governance participation, and staking incentives.

Participants can stake tokens during the presale to earn yields of up to 38% APY, though returns gradually decrease as overall participation increases.

With exchange listings anticipated later this year, Bitcoin Hyper’s presale offers early supporters exposure to the next evolution of the Bitcoin network.

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