As we enter 2026, the cryptocurrency market is brewing a wave of structural adjustments. From accelerated institutional entry to technological upgrades, several key tracks are worth long-term observation.

**Mainstream Coins: Institutional and Ecosystem Resonance**

BTC's story is the most straightforward. The 2024 halving event has already suppressed supply, yet institutional profit-taking enthusiasm is actually increasing—ETF products, corporate asset allocations—all are driving prices toward new highs. Considering the possibility of sustained loose global liquidity, a price range of 100,000 to 150,000 makes perfect sense, and in extreme cases, it could even break through. Of course, don’t forget the policy shifts at the Federal Reserve; regulatory dynamics remain a variable.

ETH’s logic revolves around ecosystem revival. The EIP-4844 upgrade has significantly lowered Layer 2 transaction costs, staking yields are attractive to institutions, and DeFi and NFT markets are gradually regaining heat. The approval of spot ETFs is expected to push prices to fluctuate between 8,000 and 12,000. The risk lies in competitors like Solana continuously eroding user base, and the market share polarization trend is already quite evident.

**High-Potential Tracks: Technological Breakthroughs and Imagination Space**

The rise of SOL is driven by two factors. First, the high-throughput ecosystem is expanding rapidly, with Meme coin culture attracting a large number of retail participants; second, institutional-grade applications are gradually maturing, with technological advances like Fire Dancer bringing new possibilities. The price range is between 500 and 800, but long-term network stability remains to be observed.

DOT’s story is somewhat different. The parachain ecosystem has begun to mature and operate, and new demands like cross-chain DeFi and RWA (Real World Assets) are growing. The price may range from 50 to 80, depending on whether the 2.0 upgrade can be delivered on schedule.

AVAX is taking an enterprise-level approach. The customized subnet architecture has attracted many traditional companies to test the waters—JPMorgan’s pilot is a typical example. The potential of the GameFi ecosystem should not be underestimated. The expected price is between 150 and 250, but the challenge is increasing homogeneity competition, with Solana and Polygon fighting for market share in this space.

**Emerging Tracks: Intersection of AI and Web3**

The AI + blockchain combination has recently become very hot. Projects like Render Network and Fetch.ai have clear logic—explosive demand for AI computing power, while blockchain provides a decentralized marketplace for computing resources. This is a high-risk but also high-reward track, with 10 to 20 times growth not being unrealistic, provided this track truly explodes.

The RWA track represents a new phase for DeFi. Projects like MakerDAO and Polygon are pushing traditional assets onto the chain, with increasing participation from financial institutions. This also offers a 10 to 20 times opportunity, with high risk and high reward.

**Important Risks to Note**

Cryptocurrency market volatility is the norm; don’t be blinded by price forecasts. The market can experience deep corrections at any time, so mindset and risk management are more important than anything else. The explosion of emerging tracks is highly uncertain, so invest within your means.