8 Next Cryptocurrencies To Explode In 2022 - The Motley Fool

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7. Next Crypto To Explode

What Is the Next Cryptocurrency to Explode in 2026?

Check out all the cryptocurrencies that could be set for big gains this year.

By Lyle Daly – Updated Feb 11, 2026 at 10:48 AM EST | Fact-checked by Frank BassShareFollow

Key Points

• Zcash surged 1,870% in 2025, showing high potential returns in cryptocurrency investments.
• Solana and XRP are highlighted as potential cryptocurrencies for significant growth due to their unique features.
• Chainlink's integration with U.S. government data underscores its growing role in blockchain infrastructure.
• We’re bullish on these 10 stocks ›

• Explosive cryptos
• 1 - 2
• 3 - 5
• Should I invest?
• Key trends
• What to look for
• FAQ

The most exciting thing about cryptocurrency investments is how they can skyrocket in value. Case in point: In 2025, privacy coin Zcash (ZEC +0.61%) surged by 1,870%. Because of the massive potential returns, many investors want to find the next cryptocurrency to explode.

The volatility of cryptocurrency can work for you or against you. Prices can fall just as quickly, as investors have seen recently. It's also impossible to know which cryptocurrency will go on a hot streak next. However, we can pick out some possible candidates, especially with so many coins trading well below their all-time highs.

Definition Icon

Decentralized Application (dApp)

A software application that runs on a blockchain or peer-to-peer network, without a central authority.

Five cryptocurrencies to explode in 2026

Here are the cryptocurrencies that could be due for a significant bull run:

1. Solana

Expand

CRYPTO: SOL

SolanaToday's Change(3.02%) $2.46Current Price$83.94

Key Data Points

Market Cap$48BDay's Range$79.82 - $84.5852wk Range$70.61 - $252.78Volume3.4B

Solana (SOL +3.02%) is a blockchain platform with smart contract capabilities. It's one of Ethereum's (ETH -0.35%) biggest competitors and is famous for its blazing-fast speeds, processing thousands of transactions per second, and transaction fees that cost a fraction of a cent.

Since Solana can run smart contracts, it has a wide range of uses, including decentralized finance (DeFi) services and, more recently, the tokenization of real-world assets (RWAs). It's also a popular place to launch meme coins -- for example, Official Trump (TRUMP +8.92%) is a Solana-based token.

2. XRP

Expand

CRYPTO: XRP

XRPToday's Change(-0.00%) $-0.00Current Price$1.41

Key Data Points

Market Cap$86BDay's Range$1.39 - $1.4352wk Range$1.14 - $3.65Volume2.2B

Ripple, a blockchain payments company, launched XRP (XRP -0.00%) in 2012, making it one of the oldest cryptocurrencies. It's designed to work with Ripple's payments network, which provides fast and affordable cross-border payments. XRP serves as a bridge currency for international payments, so banks don't need to have accounts funded with various currencies.

Ripple had been locked in a lawsuit with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) since 2020 over allegations that XRP tokens were unregistered securities. In August 2025, the SEC ended the lawsuit. With no more regulatory issues looming, Ripple can focus on expanding its list of banking partners and growing XRP.

3. Chainlink

Expand

CRYPTO: LINK

ChainlinkToday's Change(0.49%) $0.04Current Price$8.64

Key Data Points

Market Cap$6.1BDay's Range$8.39 - $8.7152wk Range$7.40 - $27.70Volume235M

On their own, blockchains are disconnected from the real world and lack access to real-world data. Chainlink (LINK +0.49%) bridges the gap, serving as an oracle platform that provides the infrastructure to let blockchains securely access external data.

Tokenized real-world assets, or RWAs, are an example of why this matters. Several blockchains now have tokenized versions of stocks and other assets. For tokenized RWAs to work, the blockchain needs data from the outside world on the current values of those assets.

Chainlink scored a big win in August 2025 when it began working with the U.S. Department of Commerce to bring government economic data to public blockchains. It's a clear sign that Chainlink is the oracle platform of choice and will serve a crucial role in the future of the crypto market. The SEC also approved the first spot Chainlink ETF in January 2026.

4. TRON

Expand

CRYPTO: TRX

TRONToday's Change(1.44%) $0.00Current Price$0.28

Key Data Points

Market Cap$27BDay's Range$0.28 - $0.2952wk Range$0.21 - $0.37Volume704MDefinition Icon

Smart Contracts

Programs written on the blockchain that self-execute when certain conditions are met.

TRON (TRX +1.44%) is another smart contract blockchain. It was founded by businessman Justin Sun, who previously worked at Ripple. One of its big selling points is a massive stablecoin supply second only to Ethereum. Stablecoins, which are crypto tokens pegged to the value of another asset, have been growing rapidly in popularity.

TRON is also a top blockchain in terms of activity. It has about 3 million daily active addresses, ranking second in that category. TRON's activity levels and role in the stablecoin market make it a dark horse candidate to take off.

5. Monero

Expand

CRYPTO: XMR

MoneroToday's Change(1.72%) $5.68Current Price$335.26

Key Data Points

Market Cap$6.2BDay's Range$326.50 - $339.9952wk Range$186.14 - $796.09Volume74M

Privacy coins have been gaining popularity. This type of cryptocurrency has privacy-enhancing features to make transaction tracing more difficult. Zcash isn't the only option here -- Monero (XMR +1.72%) is one of the first privacy coins, and according to the Monero website, transactions are confidential and untraceable.

As governments pass more crypto regulations, a subset of users will likely prefer to keep their activity private. Monero could be a long-term winner due to its privacy features. There have been no public reports of anyone cracking it.

Another unique feature of Monero is that it's ASIC-resistant, meaning people can mine it using normal computing hardware instead of application-specific integrated circuits, custom processors designed to perform specific tasks. This has encouraged more people to mine Monero, strengthening its network.

Should you consider investing in the next crypto that explodes?

It's tempting to try to find the next big cryptocurrency. Even though you could see incredible returns this way, there are a few serious downsides:

• It's extremely risky. Most cryptocurrencies don't succeed. CoinGecko research found that more than 50% of cryptocurrencies have stopped trading. Small cryptocurrencies have more growth potential but are also more likely to fail.
• It's time-consuming. You need to spend quite a bit of time reviewing cryptocurrencies to make educated investments. Otherwise, you're throwing darts at the wall.
• The crypto market is highly unpredictable. Your carefully researched investment could go nowhere, while a practically useless meme coin goes to the moon.

Keep your expectations -- and the amount you invest -- very low. You might also want to put some of your money into cryptocurrency stocks or large-cap coins, such as market leader Bitcoin (BTC +1.51%), to balance out the risk.

Key trends in the crypto industry

Cryptocurrency is becoming increasingly integrated with the global financial system. SEC approval of crypto ETFs, starting with the first spot Bitcoin ETFs in January 2024, has driven institutional investments in several of the leading cryptocurrencies. Major financial institutions are adopting blockchain technology and crypto tokens, most notably stablecoins, for cross-border payments.

The crypto industry has benefited from the political climate. In March 2025, President Trump signed an executive order to establish cryptocurrency reserves. In July, the U.S. passed the Genius Act, the country's first major crypto legislation.

However, the crypto market remains extremely volatile. The total crypto market cap plummeted from $4.3 trillion in October 2025 to $2.2 trillion in early 2026.

What to look for in a booming crypto

When you're evaluating a booming crypto, start with its real-world utility. Consider the uses for it and the problems it aims to solve. A good place to find this information is in the cryptocurrency's whitepaper, typically found on its website. Here are a few more important items you can use to evaluate a cryptocurrency:

• Leadership: Check who's behind the project, their qualifications, and their experience.
• Unique attributes: This could be anything that makes a cryptocurrency stand out from the competition, such as Solana's speed or TRON's success with stablecoins.
• Total value locked (TVL): For blockchains with smart contract capabilities, TVL shows you how much value is on a blockchain. It's a good measure of which blockchains people are using.
• Number of users: This metric provides an indication of a blockchain's popularity.

There's no guarantee that a booming cryptocurrency will maintain its momentum. But those factors can help you determine whether a cryptocurrency has genuine value or is just designed to enrich the developers behind it.

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FAQ

Booming cryptocurrencies FAQ

Which crypto will boom in 2026?

What crypto is most likely to explode?

What coin will skyrocket in 2026?

Which crypto has 1000x potential?

What is the Donald Trump crypto coin?

How do I find trending cryptocurrencies before they go viral?

Are newly launched cryptocurrencies more likely to explode?

Does a low or large market cap influence whether cryptos will explode?

About the Author

Lyle Daly is a contributing Motley Fool stock market analyst covering information technology and cryptocurrency. Lyle has been a contributor at the financial services company since 2018. His work has been featured on USA Today, Yahoo Finance, MSN, Fox Business, and Nasdaq. Before joining The Motley Fool, he wrote for financial brands including Intuit.TMFLyleDalyX@LyleDaly

Lyle Daly has positions in Bitcoin, Chainlink, Ethereum, Monero, and Solana. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Bitcoin, Chainlink, Ethereum, Solana, and XRP. The Motley Fool recommends Monero. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Stocks Mentioned

Chainlink

CRYPTO: LINK$8.64 (+0.49%) $+0.04

XRP

CRYPTO: XRP$1.41 (0.00%) $0.00

Ethereum

CRYPTO: ETH$1953.21 (0.35%) $6.86

Monero

CRYPTO: XMR$335.26 (+1.72%) $+5.68

TRON

CRYPTO: TRX$0.28 (+1.44%) $+0.00

Zcash

CRYPTO: ZEC$257.39 (+0.61%) $+1.55

Solana

CRYPTO: SOL$83.94 (+3.02%) $+2.46

Bitcoin

CRYPTO: BTC$67831.00 (+1.51%) $+1012.30

Official Trump

CRYPTO: TRUMP$3.71 (+8.92%) $+0.30

*Average returns of all recommendations since inception. Cost basis and return based on previous market day close.

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