7 cryptocurrencies with growth potential in January

Source: PortaldoBitcoin Original Title: See 7 cryptocurrencies with growth potential in January Original Link: After a 2025 marked by strong volatility among cryptocurrencies, important technical movements, and increasing institutional participation, 2026 begins with expectations of consolidating narratives that gained strength in recent months. Analysts point out that the behavior of global liquidity, the flow of resources into ETFs, and the advancement of applications with real-world use should continue to be key determinants of the performance of major crypto assets at the start of the year.

In this context, the prevailing outlook is for a more selective market. The pursuit of “quick promises” gives way to projects with a clear thesis, solid infrastructure, and the ability to attract users, developers, and institutional capital.

High-performance networks, protocols related to the tokenization of real-world assets, scalability solutions, and even more defensive-profile assets are among the bets for January.

Chainlink (LINK)

Among the most cited altcoins by analysts, Chainlink consistently appears as a bet on infrastructure, connecting blockchains to external information such as prices and events, solving one of the sector’s main challenges.

Technical analysts assess that whenever the market prioritizes utility and robustness, projects related to reliable data tend to gain space. This view is reinforced by partnerships and tests with major financial institutions, positioning Chainlink favorably if the RWAs narrative continues to advance in 2026. Large investor accumulation reinforces expectations of asset appreciation, combining high liquidity with a more mature structural thesis.

XRP

XRP returns to analysts’ radar due to its combination of high liquidity, institutional narrative, and regulatory advances. The market has priced in greater legal clarity and the possibility of expanding regulated products, which helps explain the recent performance of the asset. The outlook is for attentive monitoring, focusing on medium- and long-term movements.

XRP plays an important role in international payments, with fast and low-cost transfers. Regulatory progress increases institutional confidence, creating space for greater adoption as traditional financial solutions integrate with blockchain.

Arbitrum (ARB)

Among layer 2 solutions, Arbitrum is consolidating as one of the main bets related to Ethereum scalability. It is assessed that the asset may reflect capital flows seeking cheaper and more efficient transactions, especially as new projects and infrastructure initiatives launched at the end of 2025 gain traction in early 2026.

Arbitrum directly represents the thesis of growing Ethereum usage. As on-chain activity increases, layer 2 solutions tend to become more relevant by enabling ecosystem expansion at lower costs, keeping ARB as a relevant name for January.

Other altcoins

Avalanche (AVAX) is cited as an alternative focused on financial applications and tokenization, benefiting from EVM compatibility. On-chain signals and interest from more sophisticated investors indicate a more constructive technical outlook at the start of the year, favoring assets with this structure.

Virtuals (VIRTUAL) appears in the artificial intelligence narrative. The project returned to the radar after launching frameworks aimed at creating and operating on-chain AI agents, which use the VIRTUAL token to execute transactions. Whenever the AI narrative gains strength, the asset tends to attract attention, especially when there are concrete product deliveries.

Celestia appeared among the bets related to modular blockchain models. The focus on scalability and efficiency, combined with recent technological advances, could attract new projects and developers throughout 2026. The innovation of the modular model positions the asset interestingly for investors attentive to blockchain infrastructure transformations.

Near Protocol is a blockchain focused on making decentralized applications more accessible, faster, and low-cost. Its efficient validation model reduces energy consumption, reinforcing security and sustainability. The ecosystem is growing in DeFi, gaming, and Web3 applications, driven by partnerships and new projects.

Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana

Despite the focus on altcoins, analysts emphasize that Bitcoin and Ethereum remain pillars of the market, while Solana is also cited by nearly everyone.

Bitcoin continues to be the main indicator of investor sentiment, with its price heavily influenced by ETF flows and expectations around interest rates and global liquidity. The asset maintains its role as a store of value and a long-term diversification instrument.

For Ethereum, the outlook is for the consolidation of the infrastructure thesis. The network remains the foundation for DeFi, tokenization, and institutional applications, with analysts pointing out that growth in staking and ETF flows could support a more gradual appreciation throughout 2026.

In Solana, it is expected to benefit during times when the market resumes seeking alternatives with real-world use, especially if Ethereum experiences periods of lower traction in the short term. The anticipation of a spot ETF in the US and increasing institutional interest, including from corporate treasuries, reinforce its short-term appreciation potential.