Altcoins to Watch as Crypto Market Enters Next Cycle

The crypto market is entering its next cycle, and several altcoins are gaining attention from investors. Ethereum is testing a key $2,700 area, while Solana is preparing for a major speed upgrade that could cut settlement time from around 13 seconds to 150 milliseconds.

Solana's Alpenglow upgrade has reached the second public test network, and its price has surged by 68% in two months. NEAR, another Layer-1 project, is holding a constructive range near $4.90 after breaking a multi-month resistance channel.

XRP is showing relative strength as it prepares for its delayed Batch Upgrade on October 9, while Zcash is gaining institutional attention through new privacy products and a physically backed ETP in Europe. Quant has created the sharpest tokenization story after its settlement-layer deal connected it to tokenized deposits across 25 major U.S. banks.

MemeToro adds an AI-led narrative for BNB Chain users, with its AI agent designed to scan news and social platforms for new trends. The project also uses public fair-launch contracts, which lock key launch terms before contributions begin.