As the crypto market faces uncertainty and continues in a consolidation phase, market expert Sam Daodu has issued a report examining the potential for XRP, Ethereum (ETH), and Solana (SOL) to emerge as frontrunners if a new altcoin season arises in 2026.
Daodu began his analysis by pointing out that Bitcoin’s (BTC) dominance is currently hovering around 59%, alongside an Altcoin Season Index reading of 55. These indicators suggest that 2026 could herald a substantial rotation towards altcoins, mirroring significant shifts experienced during cycles in 2016-2017 and 2020-2021.
The expert outlines several bullish scenarios for each. For XRP, he envisions a potential surge past the $6-$8 range if exchange-traded fund (ETF) inflows maintain a monthly average exceeding $400 million and RippleNet continues to expand its influence in global banking.
ETH, on the other hand, could see itself climbing toward $12,000-$18,000 if Layer 2 (L2) adoption unlocks broader usage and ETF inflows rebound.
Daodu highlights that active addresses are at cycle highs, indicating organic demand that may translate to higher prices once institutional sentiment shifts positively.
For SOL, the outlook is similarly optimistic. Solana might rocket to the range of $500-$800 if its transaction finality of 150 milliseconds and low fees attract a new wave of applications. Additionally, the rise in ETF filings could lead to significant capital inflows.
In more stable scenarios, Daodu suggests that XRP might consolidate between $2.50-$3.50 if institutional adoption progresses steadily without dramatic catalysts.
He also speculates that Ethereum could trade within the range of $5,000-$9,000, benefiting from consistent demand driven by staking yields and decentralized finance (DeFi) growth.
Meanwhile, Solana might trend between $200-$350, assuming that developer growth and retail adoption continue at their current pace without major breakthroughs.
However, Daodu cautions that XRP could fall below $1.50 if demand for ETFs wanes or if regulatory uncertainties arise. Similarly, ETH could fall below $2,500 if scalability issues arise or if regulatory challenges become more pronounced. SOL could drop below $100 if outages persist or if it faces increased competition from other Layer 1 platforms.
AI predictions provide additional insight into the expected performance of these altcoins. For XRP, forecasts vary significantly, with ChatGPT estimating a range of $0.80-$3.00, while Grok presents a more bullish outlook with a target of $1.50-$6.00.
Ethereum’s AI predictions show a range of $3,000-$9,000 from ChatGPT, while Gemini anticipates a high of $7,000-$18,000 through increased tokenization.
Lastly, Solana’s predictions range from $120-$350 from ChatGPT to a more optimistic $300-$800 from Gemini, depending on the growth of consumer applications.
XRP was trading at $1.93 at the time of writing, down 2% in the previous 24 hours. ETH traded at roughly $2,952, while SOL traded at $128, both experiencing comparable declines during the same time period.
Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com
On Wednesday, Pantera Capital, one of the largest venture capital firms in the crypto industry, released its latest blockchain letter. In this edition, the firm reflects on the challenges faced in 2025 while projecting optimism for the remaining months of 2026.
Pantera begins by acknowledging that last year was not fundamentally driven when it came to returns within the crypto markets. It cites macroeconomic factors, market positioning, and structural influences as the main drivers that shaped performance, particularly for assets beyond Bitcoin (BTC).
The firm highlights several positive developments, including the passage of the GENIUS Act and the rise of digital asset treasuries (DATs). These factors contributed to a more stabilized market sentiment, especially with the onset of Federal Reserve (Fed) rate cuts.
However, the firm also describes a challenging fourth quarter in 2025, where a significant selloff on October 10 led to the largest liquidation cascade in crypto history.
Despite this and many other setbacks during last year’s performance, Pantera expresses optimism about the future, identifying several catalysts poised to drive growth in the coming months.
First and foremost, institutional adoption of blockchain technology continues to expand. Many enterprises are now integrating blockchain into their core offerings, with examples like Robinhood’s tokenized equities and JPMorgan’s initiatives.
Moreover, the firm distinguished that there has been a notable drop in barriers to entry for major financial players into the crypto market, including sovereign reserves and large asset management firms.
Pantera Capital also explored specific sector predictions for 2026. They anticipate that Real-World Assets (RWAs) will take off. They expect that treasuries and private credit could double, with tokenized stocks and equities experiencing rapid growth as well.
The firm further forecasts that prediction markets will attract acquisition interest as they consolidate around institutional infrastructure. The demand for sports-focused platforms is also expected to grow, expanding their presence in the market.
In terms of banking innovation, ten major banks are reportedly exploring the issuance of a consortium stablecoin pegged to G7 currencies, which could provide a compliant and risk-managed way for people and institutions to utilize digital currencies.
The macro perspective remains positive as well, with a significant percentage of Bitcoin now held by public companies, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and nations, indicating a shift towards compliance and institutional investment in the crypto market.
Finally, Pantera asserts that 2026 is poised to be a landmark year for Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) in the digital asset space. Following a significant uptick in 2025, expectations for further growth in crypto-friendly listings are high, as companies look to tokenize assets and expand their portfolios.
Featured image from DALL-E, char from TradingView.com
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The post AI and the Future of Work: 5 Predictions for 2026 appeared first on TechRepublic.
Experts predict 2026 will bring less AI hype and more governance, delayed enterprise spending, AI moving into OT, smarter cyberattacks, and faster cooling tech.
The post AI and the Future of Work: 5 Predictions for 2026 appeared first on TechRepublic.
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