This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Cryptocurrency investments carry risk, and readers should do their own research before making decisions.
The crypto market is cooling down a bit, and that is not always a bad thing. Over the last 24 hours, the total crypto market cap slipped by around 0.44% and is now close to $3.08 trillion. This small drop happened as traders became careful ahead of major U.S. inflation and jobs data. On top of that, spot Bitcoin ETF outflows returned, and nearly $450 million worth of long positions were liquidated on January 8.
Bitcoin dominance is sitting near 58.49%, while the altcoin market dipped about 0.66%. This shows that money is rotating, not leaving crypto completely. These kinds of slow and calm pullbacks often create good entry points. For investors looking for the best crypto to buy now, this phase can be more interesting than a fast-moving rally.
Let’s look at five top trending cryptocurrencies today that are showing strong signals, useful products, or important technical moves. These are also names being discussed as possible candidates for the next crypto to 100x.
RateX (RTX) is trading around $2.60 after rising 2.53% in the last 24 hours. While the broader market dipped, RTX managed to stay positive, which already tells us buyers are interested.
The main reason is its upcoming PayFi platform, expected to launch in February 2026. PayFi is designed to let users move money directly from crypto to their bank accounts. This is a real and simple use case, not just hype. RateX has already raised $28.7 million, and its wallet is ready for app stores, which shows the project is serious about delivery.
RTX has also gained attention from listings on Aster DEX and steady visibility on Binance Alpha. At the same time, team and investor tokens are locked, which helps reduce selling pressure. Because of this mix of utility, timing, and supply control, RateX is often seen as a strong option when people talk about the best crypto to buy now.
DeepNode AI moved up 1.59% in the past 24 hours, even though it is still down around 3.43% over the past week and month. This shows that traders are reacting to fresh news rather than long-term trends.
The biggest trigger was DeepNode’s listing on Gate.io on January 9, 2026. This made the DN/USDT pair available to more users and pushed daily trading volume to about $173.8 million. New listings often bring fast price moves because new buyers jump in.
DeepNode has also gained extra visibility through Binance Alpha, and its focus on decentralized AI infrastructure fits well with current market interest. While it is still an early-stage play, it keeps showing up among top trending cryptocurrencies today, especially for investors looking at AI-based projects.
Power Protocol (POWER) rallied by a whopping 11.18% within the last 24 hours when it had fallen more than 43% within the last week. The current upsurge appears to be a technical rebound; such reactions are important in a volatile market.
On 11th January 2026, the RSI of POWER had fallen to 18.84. This is explained in simpler terms as this caused the token to be heavily oversold, and most of the sellers were done with their selling. Buyers entered at or near the support level of $0.13.
The trade volume increased by 4.58% too. Indeed, the bounce had some strength. Notably, POWER has a low liquidity level. Due to this condition, even a small trading volume can generate a significant price movement. That is why it occasionally ranks among the tops in the crypto market bounce.
Story (IP) surged 19.70% during the last day and is up 22.65% over the week and 35.15% over the month. It is unmistakably one of the strongest performers right now.
Story focuses on turning intellectual property into onchain assets that can be used for AI training and content creation. While AI is growing in 2026, there is more demand for legal and transparent data sources. Story fits right into this trend, connecting ownership rights with AI development.
Extra attention came from exchange-related updates involving Upbit and OKX, along with a technical breakout above the $2.57 level. Due to low liquidity, the surge in buying pressure sent prices up fast. For many investors, Story is now viewed as one of the top cryptocurrencies in which to invest within the AI space.
OLAXBT (AIO) rose 15.34% in the last 24 hours and is up nearly 60% over the past month. This is strong performance, especially during a slow market.
The main reason is Falcon Finance’s AIO Staking Vault, launched on December 10, 2025. It offers 20% to 35% APR in USDf for users who lock their AIO tokens. This encourages people to hold and stake instead of selling, which supports the price.
Similar staking models used by Falcon-backed tokens in the past helped reduce volatility. AIO has also broken key resistance levels and gained exposure through Kraken. Because of this, it often comes up when investors discuss the best crypto to buy now for both yield and growth.
The recent market dip is small and driven by macro uncertainty, ETF flows, and liquidations, not fear. These moments often reward patient investors who focus on strong projects instead of chasing hype.
RateX, DeepNode, Power Protocol, Story, and OLAXBT each offer something different, from real payment use cases and AI infrastructure to staking rewards and technical rebounds. As the market settles and confidence returns, some of these could become top crypto gainers. For anyone searching for the best crypto to buy now, this calm phase may be the right time to start paying attention.
Muskan Sharma is a crypto journalist with 2 years of experience in industry research, finance analysis, and content creation. Skilled in crafting insightful blogs, news articles, and SEO-optimized content. Passionate about delivering accurate, engaging, and timely insights into the evolving crypto landscape. As a crypto journalist at Coin Gabbar, I research and analyze market trends, write news articles, create SEO-optimized content, and deliver accurate, engaging insights on cryptocurrency developments, regulations, and emerging technologies.