The post Top Altcoins To Buy in 2026 appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

The crypto market is quietly shifting again, and while Bitcoin continues to dominate headlines, attention is now turning toward altcoins that are building real traction beneath the surface.

According to Altcoin Daily’s latest analysis, this phase is less about hype and more about positioning, with several altcoins showing strong fundamentals, rising usage, and increasing institutional interest.

Here are the top altcoins currently standing out.

Hyperliquid Gains Momentum With Real Usage

Recently, Hyperliquid has come up as a major force in the derivatives space. All because the platform combines a Layer-1 blockchain with a decentralized exchange, allowing users to trade perpetual futures across crypto and even traditional assets.

Its unique feature contains its explosive growth in trading volume, especially during major global events. The platform is already ranking among the top chains by revenue, showing strong product-market fit.

Adding to this, it is its token model. Wherein, increased activity leads to token buybacks and burns, meaning higher usage could directly benefit holders over time.

BitTensor Taps Into the AI Boom

Next up on the radar is BitTensor, which is gaining attention as a unique play on the AI narrative. The project focuses on decentralizing artificial intelligence by rewarding contributors who build and improve AI models.

Backed by institutional players like Barry Silbert, BitTensor is positioning itself as infrastructure for the next wave of AI innovation. Its capped supply and growing developer ecosystem add to its long-term appeal.

The idea is simple but powerful; just as Bitcoin monetized energy, BitTensor aims to monetize global talent.

Solana Shows Strong On-Chain Growth

Moving on, Solana continues to demonstrate why it remains one of the most closely watched networks. Despite price volatility, its usage metrics are surging.

Stablecoin transfers and decentralized exchange volumes have grown rapidly, with recent monthly activity nearly matching previous yearly totals. This suggests that real adoption is accelerating beneath the surface.

If this trend continues, Solana could remain a key player in the next market cycle.

Chainlink and Uniswap Lead in Real Revenue

Chainlink and Uniswap are being viewed as more mature, “blue-chip” altcoins.

Chainlink plays a critical role in providing real-world data to blockchains, especially as tokenization gains momentum. Meanwhile, Uniswap continues to generate consistent revenue through trading fees, making it one of the most established DeFi platforms.

Both projects stand out for their real-world utility and proven demand.

Sui, Ondo, and Propy Add New Narratives

Newer and niche-focused projects are also gaining traction. Sui is attracting attention for its scalability and strong development team, while Ondo Finance is pushing into the fast-growing tokenization sector.

At the same time, Propy is exploring how blockchain can transform real estate transactions, representing a more experimental but high-upside play.

The post Pi Network News: Protocol 22 Activated as Network Prepares for Smart Contracts on May 11 appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Pi Network has officially activated Protocol 22 on April 27, 2026, marking a major backend upgrade aimed at boosting scalability and preparing the network for advanced functionality. Built on Stellar Core 22, the update required all node operators to upgrade to version 0.5.4 or face disconnection, making it a critical synchronization step.

According to crypto analyst Dr. Altcoin, this signals Pi’s shift from a social mining experiment into a fully functional blockchain infrastructure. After years of focusing on its 70M+ user base, the network is now laying the technical “road” to support real utility.

Protocol 23: The Real Turning Point

While Protocol 22 sets the stage, Protocol 23, expected on May 11, could be the true game changer. It introduces smart contracts, enabling Pi to evolve into a programmable platform similar to Ethereum.

This upgrade will unlock real-world asset (RWA) tokenization, decentralized applications, and the launch of a native DEX. Additional features include .pi domains for Web3 identity, on-chain KYC for seamless verification, and the rollout of AI App Studio for advanced AI-powered apps.

Fast-Paced Roadmap to June

Pi Network is entering an intense 10-week development phase. Protocol 24.1 (May 25) will focus on optimization, followed by Protocol 25.1 (June 8) targeting scalability. The roadmap concludes with Protocol 26.0 on June 22, expected to stabilize the ecosystem ahead of Pi2 Day celebrations on June 28.

Consensus 2026 Spotlight

The timing is strategic. Just before Consensus 2026 (May 5–7), Pi’s founders will present a technically upgraded network to institutional players. Dr. Chengdiao Fan will discuss Web3 and AI integration, while Nicolas Kokkalis will highlight digital identity, leveraging Pi’s 18M+ KYC-verified users.

Price Surge and Key Levels

Pi Network is showing steady momentum, trading around $0.18 with a 6.5% weekly gain and a market cap of approximately $1.86 billion, reflecting sustained investor interest.

In the short term, price action remains slightly mixed, dipping 0.69% in the past hour but still holding a modest 2% gain over the last 24 hours, suggesting mild consolidation after the recent uptick.

On the supply side, Pi has a circulating supply of about 10.36 billion tokens, with a much larger maximum supply capped at 100 billion, highlighting significant future dilution potential as more tokens enter circulation.

The post Veteran Investor Says Ask Anyone on Street About Crypto and They Will Say Ripple Not Ethereum appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Ripple and XRP are drawing fresh attention after crypto investor Santiago, who has backed over 150 companies, shared a detailed take on how the firm is positioning itself beyond crypto and into global finance.

In a podcast, Keith & Ben talk to Santiago Santos, who highlighted Ripple’s biggest advantage, mainstream recognition.

“You walk around the street… people won’t say Solana or Ethereum. They’ll tell you, Ripple. Without a doubt.”

He argued that Ripple has captured attention better than almost any project except Bitcoin, effectively “memeing itself into existence.” In his view, this level of brand recall plays a major role in long-term positioning, even if the underlying tech debate continues.

Using XRP as a Strategic Currency

Beyond branding, Santiago pointed to Ripple’s treasury strategy as the real differentiator.

He further noted that, “they’re using that currency to go buy real businesses… that’s exactly what you should be doing.”

He referenced Ripple’s recent acquisitions, including Hidden Road, noting that the company is actively deploying its resources to acquire infrastructure and expand its footprint. He compared this approach to historical corporate strategies like AOL-Time Warner, where companies leveraged valuation to secure real-world assets. 

“I’m not advertising XRP. I’m just saying they have done very interesting things to become a dominant player, not in crypto. In finance,” he said.

A Practical Approach in a Competitive Market

Santiago contrasted Ripple’s execution with the broader crypto space, where many projects remain focused on ideology or long-term roadmaps.

“Business, practicality, and common sense… is what wins.”

He criticized ecosystems that rely too heavily on theory, pointing out that crypto’s open nature allows users and liquidity to move quickly. Projects that fail to act decisively risk losing relevance.

The post Ripple Prime Cleared $3 Trillion in 2025 and Has DTCC Access, but XRP Is Not Settling Quadrillions appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Fresh excitement around Ripple and the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC) picked up after viral posts claimed XRP is now tied to trillions in global transactions. But analyst Arthur has stepped in to bring clarity as the narrative began to run ahead of reality.

Real Progress, But Not What You Think

The buzz began when a social media post highlighted DTCC’s massive $4.7 quadrillion annual processing volume and suggested that XRP is now integrated into that system via Ripple Prime.

That quickly fueled speculation that XRP could be directly settling a portion of that volume, an idea that gained traction across the community.

What Arthur Clarified

Arthur confirmed that Ripple Prime is indeed connected to DTCC infrastructure, which is a meaningful development for Ripple’s institutional push.

However, he emphasized that this does not mean XRP is settling DTCC transactions. Instead, Ripple Prime likely has access to certain clearing or infrastructure services, particularly tied to tokenized or digital assets, not traditional settlement flows.

“This does not mean XRP is now directly settling DTCC’s transactions,” he noted, urging the community to stay precise.

Meanwhile — Ripple Expands Institutional Reach

In other developments around Ripple, the firm is quietly strengthening its institutional game. Through Ripple Prime, it has expanded its partnership with Bullish, giving big investors direct access to Bitcoin options markets alongside spot and futures trading. What’s interesting here is the focus on capital efficiency; institutions can now deploy funds faster and, with upcoming cross-margin features, manage collateral across platforms more smoothly. With Ripple Prime already clearing over $3 trillion in volume in 2025, the move signals rising institutional demand for advanced crypto derivatives and deeper integration between traditional finance and digital asset infrastructure.

The post US Will Not Sell Its 300,000 BTC Says Eric Trump as Sovereign Accumulation Story Takes Shape appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

The conversation around Bitcoin at the Bitcoin 2026 in Las Vegas took a decisive turn this week after Eric Trump confirmed that the U.S. government is sitting on a massive stash of Bitcoin, and isn’t planning to sell.

“The US government holds 300,000 BTC and will not sell it,” Trump said during a panel, reinforcing the growing narrative that Bitcoin is no longer a short-term asset for governments but part of a long-term reserve strategy.

“Bitcoin Is Being Compressed”

Trump described what he calls a major “compression” happening in Bitcoin. In simple terms, more players are buying, and crucially, not selling. He stressed that while the narrative often focuses on Bitcoin’s 21 million supply cap, the real story is an even tighter supply because a large portion is lost or held long-term.

“People are not selling it. People are holding it. Bitcoin is becoming sticky,” he said, pointing out that long-term holders are replacing short-term traders.

Institutions Flip the Script

One of the biggest shifts is coming from traditional finance. Trump highlighted how major players that once dismissed Bitcoin are now actively building around it.

He pointed to JPMorgan Chase, noting how CEO Jamie Dimon once criticized Bitcoin but now allows clients to borrow against BTC for mortgages. Meanwhile, Charles Schwab is preparing to custody Bitcoin for its massive user base, signaling deeper institutional trust.

On top of that, BlackRock has pushed highly successful Bitcoin ETFs, with new yield strategies now being layered on top, further expanding institutional exposure.

Corporates, Governments, and Miners Step In

Beyond Wall Street, corporate and sovereign participation is rising. Trump highlighted firms like Michael Saylor’s company and Metaplanet, both aggressively accumulating Bitcoin.

Even governments are now part of the equation. He noted that the U.S. holds around 300,000 BTC and is not selling, while parts of the Middle East are using excess energy capacity to mine Bitcoin, turning unused resources into long-term assets.

“This Is Just Getting Started”

For Trump, the last six months have been “transformational” compared to the previous three years. Overall, according to him, the market is shifting from speculative cycles to structural accumulation.

“We are in the greatest period in the history of crypto… just hold on, it’s coming,” he said, expressing strong conviction that the current phase is only the beginning of a much larger move.

The post Pi Network News Today: Half a Billion Tasks Done as Pi Targets the AI Human Data Market appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Pi Network has completed more than 526 million human validation tasks through a distributed workforce of over one million identity-verified participants, the project announced this week, positioning itself as one of the largest verified human labour networks in the world at a moment when demand for exactly that kind of infrastructure is accelerating rapidly.

The work was carried out as part of Pi’s native KYC system, with validators paid directly in Pi tokens for completing verification tasks. The result is a network that has verified over 18 million people across more than 200 countries and regions, combining AI automation with human judgment in a way that most identity verification systems cannot replicate at scale.

Why It Matters for AI

Building reliable AI is not purely a computing problem. Human judgment remains important for refining outputs, catching errors, resolving ambiguity, and ensuring AI systems reflect genuine human preferences rather than shortcuts. 

The challenge for AI companies is that building this kind of human input network from scratch is expensive, slow, and operationally complex.

Pi Network’s blog explained, “Non-human reinforcement and automated training methods often optimize proxies rather than true human preferences, can be vulnerable to reward hacking, and struggle to fully capture nuance, legitimacy, and real-world human judgment.”

Pi argues that it has already built the solution. A global, KYC-verified workforce that has demonstrably completed half a billion tasks is not a proposal. It is a track record.

The Payment Advantage

Paying millions of contributors across different countries in traditional currencies is expensive and complicated. Pi’s blockchain infrastructure reduces cross-border friction, eliminates intermediary fees, and removes the onboarding burden since contributors already hold active Pi wallets.

The project is also developing Pi Launchpad, currently in testing, which would allow companies to pay contributors in their own tokens rather than cash, turning compensation into a user acquisition tool rather than purely an operating cost.