As January 2026 reaches its closing day, digital asset markets remain busy and unpredictable. While many people are stepping away for the weekend, experienced market watchers continue to track price movements closely. Bitcoin is staying steady, yet attention is shifting toward selected projects reaching key development points or important deadlines. Funds are moving quickly as traders aim to position themselves before February begins. This environment has pushed discussions around the best cryptos to watch now to the front of every serious market conversation.Now is a useful time to review holdings and assess which assets still carry strong upside potential. Fast price swings can make these decisions challenging, especially during periods of market uncertainty. Using current weekend data, we reviewed several active names showing momentum. Choosing the best cryptos to watch now may help market participants stay ahead as the next phase of the cycle approaches.
1. BlockDAG: Presale Nears Its Final Moments
Attention across the market has centered on BlockDAG (BDAG) as its presale enters its final hours. This closing phase has created intense activity, as access to the current pricing window is almost gone. The presale price remains at $0.0005, while the confirmed future exchange price stands at $0.05. With only 600 million coins left and presale funding now over $451 million, demand continues to rise quickly. The presale batch has reached stage 36, and the countdown is creating heavy urgency as the presale is ending in just a few hours.
Beyond timing pressure, BlockDAG has already built a sizable base with more than 312,000 holders. This scale highlights strong interest during the presale period alone. Many are acting fast because once the presale closes, this entry point disappears permanently. Market attention continues to label BlockDAG among the best cryptos to watch now due to this narrowing window and growing demand.
Under the surface, BlockDAG’s structure supports this attention. The network combines speed and security through a hybrid design that improves transaction flow compared to older systems. Processing capacity reaches up to 10,000 transactions per second, addressing congestion concerns seen elsewhere. A mobile mining app with more than 3.5 million users is already active, showing real usage before the presale ends. With supply tightening and the presale clock nearly at zero, BlockDAG remains a major focus for those tracking the best cryptos to watch now in early 2026.
2. Solana: Testing a New Level of Transaction Speed
Solana is holding firm near $125.15 this weekend, reflecting stability after a slower trading week. The latest boost in interest follows the launch of the Alpenglow Testnet Beta. This update aims to finalize transactions in under 150 milliseconds, marking a notable step forward for network performance. While the full rollout is still ahead, developers are already testing the system, adding momentum and renewed discussion around Solana.
Price action has responded modestly, rising about 0.3%, yet sentiment remains positive. Traders are watching the $128 level closely, as a break above it could open the door to further movement. Large holders are staying patient while monitoring test results. For those prioritizing technical progress, Solana continues to appear on lists of the best cryptos to watch now due to its focus on speed and network upgrades.
3. Hyperliquid: Volume Growth Draws Attention
Hyperliquid has delivered strong weekend performance, pushing past the $30 mark to trade near $30.45. This move represents a 2.2% increase over the last 24 hours. A major highlight came as Hyperliquid surpassed Kraken in spot trading volume, a rare achievement for a decentralized platform. This shift signals growing user trust and rising daily activity.
The HIP-3 upgrade has supported this growth by allowing permissionless markets, leading to frequent launches of new trading pairs. High activity levels have also increased staking yields, currently near 24%, which continues to draw attention. With market makers defending the $30 level, Hyperliquid is increasingly discussed as one of the best cryptos to watch now for those following fast-growing platforms.
4. Cardano: Community Control Sparks Renewed Interest
Cardano has shown fresh strength, climbing 4.2% to trade around $0.58. This move follows the completion of the Voltaire governance vote, officially placing control of the network into the hands of its community. This milestone has boosted confidence among long-term supporters and brought new attention back to the project.
Additional interest is building around the Midnight privacy sidechain, with talk of a possible snapshot for an upcoming airdrop in February. This speculation has encouraged increased staking activity as participants prepare. Combined governance progress and a potential reward have positioned Cardano among the best cryptos to watch now as January closes.
Final Thoughts
As the month ends, each project discussed offers a different narrative. Solana highlights ongoing technical upgrades, Hyperliquid demonstrates rising trading demand, and Cardano benefits from governance progress and airdrop expectations. BlockDAG, however, stands apart due to its presale ending within hours, limited remaining supply, and strong funding figures.
For anyone tracking the best cryptos to watch now, timing plays a critical role. While some projects offer gradual growth stories, BlockDAG’s closing presale window has created unmatched urgency. With its price fixed at $0.0005 and the presale nearly complete, attention remains firmly locked on BlockDAG as January 2026 comes to a close.
