January 6th’s Top Crypto Picks: XRP, Dogecoin, and PEPE Lead the Charge

Digital asset markets kick off 2026 with a familiar cast of contenders vying for portfolio position. While traditional finance debates rate cuts, crypto's narrative machine spins faster.

The Regulatory Runner: XRP's Legal Marathon

XRP continues its dance with regulators—a saga that injects volatility and defines its investment thesis. Every court filing sends ripples, proving in crypto, legal briefs can be as influential as whitepapers.

The Meme Monarch: Dogecoin's Enduring Grin

Dogecoin defies textbook analysis. Its strength isn't in a complex smart contract, but in a stubborn, community-powered brand that laughs at 'serious' valuation models. It's the asset that reminds everyone that sentiment often trumps utility.

The Froggy Phenom: PEPE's Speculative Leap

PEPE represents the pure, unadulterated edge of meme coin speculation. It's a high-risk bet on internet culture's ability to create monetary value from a joke—a concept that still gives traditional asset managers hives.

Choosing between these assets isn't about finding the 'best' technology; it's a wager on which narrative—legal clarity, cultural loyalty, or viral chaos—will capture the market's fleeting attention next. Sometimes, the most sophisticated play is recognizing that in crypto, the story is the security.

XRP (XRP): Bringing Global Payments On Chain

Ripple’s XRP ($XRP) continues to sit at the center of blockchain-powered cross-border payments thanks to its rapid transaction speeds and low fees. Built for modern finance, the XRP Ledger (XRPL) offers a faster and more cost-efficient alternative to SWIFT.

XRP’s use case has appeared in publications from institutions including the United Nations Capital Development Fund and the White House. Backed by Ripple’s expanding fintech partnerships, XRP has become the third-largest cryptocurrency outside of stablecoins, with its market cap now above $143 billion.

After resolving its long-running legal conflict with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission early last year, XRP surged to a seven-year high of $3.65. It has since corrected around 35% and currently trades NEAR $2.37.

Over the past week, XRP jumped a staggering 27%, fueled by momentum from the debut of five U.S. spot XRP ETFs that have opened the door for institutional inflows. Additional approvals and clearer regulation in early 2026 could provide further upside, with some analysts targeting $10 by the end of Q1.

Dogecoin (DOGE): The World’s Favourite Meme Coin Is No Longer a Laughing Matter

Dogecoin ($DOGE), launched in 2013, remains the original meme cryptocurrency and still thrives thanks to the loyalty of its “Doge Army.” Despite its playful origins, Doge continues to maintain a market cap of over $25 billion, proof of its staying power.

Its breakout run in 2021, amplified by cultural figures like Elon Musk, Snoop Dogg, and Gene Simmons, turned dogecoin into one of crypto’s most recognizable brands.

Although created as a joke, Dogecoin’s large market capitalization has helped stabilize its price action, which often moves in line with Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP. The coin briefly reached $0.30 in mid-September before cooling to around $0.15.

The community’s long-standing motto, “Dogecoin to $1,” is still very much alive, though achieving that milestone in 2025 may be unrealistic without major U.S. regulatory developments. Should the TRUMP administration deliver on Project Crypto this month, it could catalyze a run from Dogecoin’s current price of $0.15 to $1 by Spring.

Mainstream usage continues to grow. Tesla accepts DOGE for select merchandise purchases, while platforms like PayPal and Revolut support DOGE transactions.

Dogecoin’s 2021 all-time high of $0.7316 remains a distant target, with the token having depreciated by 79.4% since.

Pepe (PEPE): Meme Coin Momentum

Since launching in April 2023, Pepe ($PEPE) has rapidly grown into the third-largest meme coin, powered by the enduring appeal of Matt Furie’s Pepe the Frog. With a market cap approaching $3 billion, PEPE has carved out a strong cultural footprint. Interest intensified when Elon Musk briefly used a Pepe meme as his profile picture on X, fueling speculation about his connection to meme tokens.

Currently trading near $0.000006848, PEPE remains about 75% below its late-2024 peak of $0.00002803, following a quieter summer and slower Q4.

The token’s RSI reading near 76 suggests overbought conditions after a 69% rally in the past week. This surge lifted PEPE above key support at $0.000006. While some short-term profit-taking appears likely, the coin has consolidated well around current levels.

If 2026 shapes up to be a bullish year for crypto, it could have a catalytic effect on Pepe, potentially paving the way for a fresh all-time high by the end of the quarter.

Bitcoin Hyper (HYPER): Meme-Infused Bitcoin Layer-2

One project gaining significant attention for 2026 is Bitcoin Hyper ($HYPER), a Bitcoin layer-2 platform masquerading as a meme-coin. Behind the humor is a serious objective: delivering high throughput, ultra-low fees, and smart contract capability to Bitcoin.

Built on the Solana Virtual Machine (SVM), HYPER also features decentralized governance and a Canonical Bridge designed to streamline bitcoin transfers across multiple blockchains.

The presale has already generated more than $30 million, with some analysts suggesting the token could potentially post 100× gains once listed on exchanges. A recent Coinsult audit confirmed no contract vulnerabilities, greenlighting $HYPER for security-conscious investors.

HYPER tokens fuel network fees, governance voting, and staking. Presale contributors can reportedly earn up to 39% APY. With the full platform set to launch in 2026, both experienced Bitcoin users and newcomers have an early-stage opportunity to engage with a project aiming to extend Bitcoin’s real-world utility.

Visit the official presale website or follow Bitcoin Hyper on X and Telegram for more information.