
The Bybit hack caused a market drop to $3.14T, with Bitcoin at $95K and altcoins strugglingโSolana fell over 6%.
Analyst picks XRP, Ondo Finance, Ethereum, Solana, Bitcoin (Cardano connection), and Chainlink/BitTensor/VeChain/Supra to watch.
Bybit bought $100M ETH, Trumpโs Liberty Financial holds $500M ETH, and Bitwise predicts Solana could hit $6,600 by 2030.
The crypto market took a hit after the Bybit hack, dragging its total value down to $3.14 trillion. Bitcoin is holding at $95K, but altcoins arenโt faring as well – Ethereum slipped to $2,715, XRP tumbled further, and Solana took the biggest hit, dropping over 6%. Despite the downturn, trading volume has spiked 13% in a day, crossing $78 billion, showing that investors are still in the game.
But with the Fear & Greed Index sitting at a neutral 40, caution remains.
While the market struggles, some altcoins are flashing strong buy signals – and according to analysts, these could be the best plays before the next rally. Here are six altcoins standing out in the chaos.
Tokens to Buy Now
XRPโs RLUSD Backing
XRP is benefiting from the increasing use of RLUSD, a stablecoin built on the XRP Ledger (XRPL). RLUSDโs total supply has reached $120 million in just two months and continues to grow. According to Ripple CTO david schwartz
david schwartz David Schwartz, also known as JoelKatz, serves as the Chief Technology Officer at Ripple, Founded in 2012 by Chris Larsen, Arthur Britto, and Jed McCaleb with a headcount of 1,120 it focuses on providing global financial institutions, businesses, governments, and developers the ability to manage, move, and tokenize value through blockchain technology. David Schwartz is an expert in software development, cryptography, and computer security, especially for startups as well as rapidly evolving, and is a native of San Francisco, California. David is one of the original architects, including Arthur Britto and Jed McCaleb, who was inspired by Bitcoin to create the XRP Ledger, it is a decentralized open blockchain founded in the year 2013. Before joining Ripple, he served as the Chief Technical Officer at WebMaster Incorporated, a Santa Clara software developer. David has designed enterprise messaging systems and encrypted cloud storage solutions for organizations such as CNN and the National Security Agency. The estimated Net Worth of Ripple is $69 Million
Personal Details:
Born: Nov 16, 1969, New YorkOrganization: Ripple and XRPLocation: United StatesGraduation: David earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Houston in Texas, U.S
Experience: CTO at Ripple from Jul 2018 - Present
Chief Cryptographer from Jul 2018-Present
David served as the Chief Technical Officer at WebMaster Incorporated from Jan 2001 - Jan 2011
Schwartz served as Director of Software Development at WebMaster Incorporated from Jan 1998 - Jan 2001
Schwartz served as Senior Network Engineer at Worldwide Internet Solutions from Jan 1996 - Jan 1998
David served as the Director of Network Services at Internet Gateway Connections from Jan 1995 - Jan 1996
David was also the Partner at Cardiophonics from Jan 1992 - Jan 1995
David is a known Top Blockchain Speaker to attends Blockchain events to be a part of growing blockchain technology Developer/ProgrammerCrypto and Blockchain Expert , XRPLโs decentralized exchanges (DEXs) use XRP as a bridge asset for auto-bridging transactions, which boosts XRPโs trading volume and adoption.
Ondo Finance: Tokenizing Real-World Assets
Ondo Finance is leading the charge in tokenizing real-world assets (RWAs) like stocks, bonds, and equities on the blockchain. Backed by Founders Fund, Coinbase, and Pantera Capital, the project recently launched Ono Chain, a Layer 1 blockchain built for institutional-grade RWA transactions.
Ethereum: Big Players Are Buying
Ethereum remains the backbone of DeFi and smart contracts, but what stands out now is the strong buying from major players. Bybit recently purchased nearly $100 million worth of ETH to cover losses from its hack, showing confidence in Ethereumโs long-term value. Even more notably, Donald Trumpโs Liberty Financial holds over half a billion dollars in ETH, highlighting growing institutional interest.
Solana: A Hidden Gem for the Next Cycle?
Solana is another top pick, with Bitwise Europe predicting a price range of $2,318 (bear case) to $6,600 (bull case) by 2030. The report notes that many investors are overlooking Solana, but its fast-growing developer activity, rising adoption, and strong institutional backing make it a solid bet for the next cycle.
Bitcoin & Cardano: A New DeFi Connection
Bitcoin remains a key asset, but the analyst highlights a Bitcoin-Cardano connection that could reshape Bitcoin DeFi. Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson
Charles Hoskinson Charles Hoskinson is an American entrepreneur and blockchain visionary. He co-founded IOHK, and Cardano (ADA), a blockchain project. He also co-founded the Ethereum blockchain platform.
With the help of Cardano’s proof-of-stake (PoS) blockchain, Charles weighs on scalability, security, and interoperability to facilitate enterprise blockchain adoption. He directs research in Web3, cryptocurrency innovation, and decentralized governance through IOHK.
Quick Facts Full Name Charles Hoskinson Birth 05-11-1987 in Hawaii, United States Nationality American Education University of Colorado Boulder, Metropolitan State University of Denver Marital Status Unmarried as of 2025 Net Worth Estimated around $700 million Charles Hoskinson's work in cryptography, digital assets, and blockchain promotion has recognized him in the crypto. His efforts in developing blockchain have greatly contributed to the advancement of DeFi and blockchain networks globally.
Charles Hoskinson - Professional Career Timeline 2013 – Co-founded Ethereum (ETH), contributing to smart contracts and decentralized applications.
2014 – Left Ethereum over governance disputes and founded IOHK (Input Output Hong Kong).
2015 – Started developing Cardano (ADA), a third-generation blockchain with a proof-of-stake (PoS) model.
2017 – Launched Cardano mainnet, introducing scalable and secure blockchain solutions.
2019 – Led Cardano’s Shelley upgrade, enhancing network decentralization and staking rewards.
2021 – Rolled out Alonzo hard fork, enabling smart contracts and DeFi on Cardano.
2022 – Expanded Web3, governance, and blockchain adoption via Cardano’s Vasil hard fork.
2023 – Advocated financial inclusion and blockchain education in Africa and developing nations.
2024 – Advanced self-sovereign identity and on-chain governance with Cardano’s latest updates.
Present – Continues shaping blockchain innovation, DeFi, and decentralized ecosystems through IOHK. He has collaborated with various tech experts and blockchain startups. Charles sees decentralized finance as a tool for financial freedom. He also educates crypto beginners through social media sites, conferences, and tech channels.
Useful Links to Connect With Charles Hoskinson Platform Link X (formerly Twitter) Charles Hoskinson (@IOHK_Charles) / X LinkedIn profile Charles Hoskinson - Self-employed | LinkedIn Cardano Foundation Cardano Foundation YouTube profile https://www.youtube.com/c/charleshoskinson Chief Executive Officer recently explained on the Mr. M podcast how Babel Fees will allow users to pay transaction fees in wrapped Bitcoin (BTC) instead of ADA.
This would make Bitcoin more usable in DeFi, removing the need for a secondary token and potentially opening up new opportunities for BTC in the DeFi space.
Low-Cap Picks: Chainlink, BitTensor, VeChain & Supra
For those looking for smaller-cap opportunities, the analyst points to Chainlink, BitTensor, VeChain, and Supra:
- Chainlink remains the leading oracle provider, essential for smart contracts needing real-world data.
- BitTensor is an emerging AI-powered blockchain network with high potential.
- VeChain continues to be a major player in supply chain solutions.
- Supra, a newer blockchain infrastructure project, has dropped nearly 15% in the past month. Despite the dip, the analyst sees strong potential for Supra, making it a solid buy-the-dip opportunity.
While the crypto market remains volatile, these six altcoins stand out for their strong fundamentals, increasing adoption, and growing institutional interest. As the market stabilizes, they could be well-positioned for the next bull run.
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