What Whales Bought During the Crash: A Look at the Best Altcoins for Q4

The recent crypto crash led to sharp declines, and many retail investors exited early. Some major holders took a different route, buying assets when sentiment was weak. 

This article examines four altcoins that saw accumulation during the downturn. Each token offers a different risk profile and potential for the remainder of Q4.

While all entries have merit, Digitap ($TAP) stands out, seeing major whale investment during the crash due to its live app, omni bank model, and Visa integration. 

1. Digitap ($TAP): Live omni bank with instant payments
2. XRP (XRP): Modern settlement system for financial institutions.
3. Polkadot (DOT): A layer 0 blockchain of blockchains.
4. Polygon Ecosystem Token (POL): Rebranded ecosystem targeting payments.

1. Digitap ($TAP) – Live Omni Bank With Real Payments Utility.

$TAP demonstrates several features that attract interest from larger investors. It combines a crypto‑fiat app, a Visa‑backed card, and a mechanism whereby 50% of platform profits go to burning tokens and staking.

Its payments app is available from Apple and Google stores right now, offering instant payments as well as international IBANs for wages and transfers. The project has raised more than $1.2M, with 80M tokens sold thus far.  

The Digitap structure might appeal to holders seeking early exposure ahead of mass adoption. It targets the 1.4 billion globally unbanked as well as the growing demographic of remote work professionals who are demanding a low-fee, zero-KYC payments model.

If it gains traction in this market, the token price could experience parabolic returns similar to payment coins like XRP, in their early stages. 

Given these conditions, $TAP qualifies as one of the best altcoins to invest in right now. Crypto whales have already taken note and allocated significant positions throughout Q4. Presales also have an added advantage as the price remains constant throughout major bear markets. Currently priced at $0.0268, $TAP will rise to $0.0297 in the next round before ultimately listing at $0.14. 

2. XRP (XRP) – Real Time Gross Settlement Ecosystem For Institutions

XRP stands out for its mature ecosystem and apparent accumulation by large wallets during the recent downturn. Data shows significant XRP being withdrawn from exchanges and moved to long‑term addresses. That behavior may reduce short‑term selling pressure. With its history of institutional use, the token may offer a relatively lower risk compared to smaller altcoins.

In a recovery scenario where capital rotates into altcoins, XRP could be well-positioned as it fits the profile for those looking for a somewhat higher confidence level with less speculative risk. The trade‑off is that the upside may be more modest than ultra‑early projects. The time to enter XRP was last year when it traded at less than $0.50, not now when it trades nearer to $3.0. 

3. Polkadot (DOT) – L0 Infrastructure Showing Mid Cap Strength

Polkadot aims to support multiple blockchains (“parachains”) and enable interoperability. During the crash, some wallet data show accumulation trends, which may indicate confidence in its long‑term infrastructure role. As altcoins recover, mid-cap infrastructure projects like DOT may benefit if funds rotate away from large caps and into more growth‑oriented platforms.

While risk remains — including competition, technology execution, and ecosystem build‑out — DOT offers a balance of maturity and upside potential. Polkadot offers an infrastructure angle rather than purely speculative hype.DOt presently trades underneath $3.0, extremely far from its all-time high of around $52. This can be interpreted either way, but many have been frustrated at its steady downward trajectory since 2021. 

4. Polygon Ecosystem Token (POL) – The L2 That Pivoted To Blockchain Money Rails

Polygon has repositioned toward an ecosystem of zero‑knowledge rollups and scaling solutions, which are central in the crypto recovery narrative. Some whale interest appears evident via accumulation and defending support zones during the crash phase. However, its price action has been lackluster this past year, steadily declining from January 1st, 2025. 

POL belongs to the category of tokens that may capture the next wave of growth if market sentiment improves. However, it’s hard to understand what Polygon’s market case is right now. It seems to be focused on real-world assets and payments, areas where there are other blockchains with deeper market penetration. It is still trying to adjust its market narrative after its recent token rebrand and restructure, confusing many investors. 

Strategic Insight: Whale Behavior And Q4 Signals

When major market participants accumulate during a downturn, it often reflects a view that the risk‑reward ratio is becoming favorable. The tokens above cover a spectrum, from presale ($TAP) through large cap (XRP) to infrastructure mid-cap (DOT, POL). This breadth means coverage of different risk categories to cater to different investors. 

Digitap is an interesting entry as it offers major upside but also proven utility, distinguishing it from practically all other presales. Users can download and test the global payments app today, seeing how efficiently it works at a Visa-compatible point of sale terminal. How many other presales can say the same? 

This is one of many reasons why whales have seen the value in $TAP and worked to reallocate capital to it during the Q4 downturn. 

Discover the future of crypto cards with Digitap by checking out their live Visa card project here:

Presale https://presale.digitap.app  

Website: https://digitap.app 

Social: https://linktr.ee/digitap.app