Bullish Tokens Under $1: Surge, Dusk, Naoris & Top Crypto Picks

These Bullish Tokens Under $1 Are Showing Early Breakout Signals

As of mid-January 2026, several cryptocurrencies under $1 are showing unusual strength despite a choppy broader market. Cheap, low-price tokens — often called penny crypto, new cryptocurrency under $1, or altcoin under $1 — can deliver huge upside. 

In this article you will explore leading crypto tokens under $1: why people care about them, how they actually work, and what's gaining them attention. 

Top 5 Bullish Tokens Under $1 In January 2026

Below are five of the most bullish crypto tokens under $1 right now — Surge, Dusk, Naoris Protocol, Trust Wallet Token (TWT) and Alchemy Pay.

Prices and on-chain stats below are shown as of January 21, 2026 and sourced from market trackers. Use them as a snapshot, not an investment promise.

Why These Bullish Crypto Tokens Under $1 are Trending Right Now

Each token on this list is showing real market interest and on-chain or off-chain catalysts: 

1. Surge is riding an AI/launchpad narrative with heavy volume; 

2. Dusk is benefiting from institutional-friendly privacy and a Chainlink integration; 

3. Naoris is in the headlines after a strategic institutional investment tied to post-quantum security; 

4. Alchemy Pay is making regulatory progress and expanding fiat rails; 

5. Trust Wallet Token remains a practical payments/utility token inside a major wallet ecosystem. 

Comparison Table : Price, Market Cap and More for Bullish Crypto Tokens Under $1

Source : CoinMarketCap 

Top 5 Crypto Tokens Under $1: Project Overview

1) Surge (SURGE)

Surge is being talked about as an AI-focused launchpad and incubator token; recent launchpad timing and huge trading volume have driven big short-term moves, and community chatter points to new fundraising / accelerator activity next week — classic fuel for a low-priced breakout when sentiment aligns. 

Expect the token utility to center on allocation access, staking/launchpad fees and governance. That combination makes Surge one of the most promising crypto projects under $1 for speculators who want a high-beta AI/DeFi play.

2) Dusk (DUSK)

Dusk positions itself as a privacy-friendly, compliance-oriented chain for real-world assets. The project’s integration with Chainlink (CCIP / oracles) is a major infrastructure milestone: it makes regulated on-chain finance and tokenized RWA flows more feasible — a reason why capital rotated into privacy/regulated models and DUSK spiked. 

Token Utility: payments, privacy features, RWA minting and compliance tooling. If you like privacy coins with a “regulatory-palatable” spin, DUSK is a top penny crypto pick.

3) Naoris Protocol (NAORIS)

Naoris markets itself as a post-quantum cybersecurity layer — a hotspot for institutions worried about “Q-Day” risks to current crypto cryptography. 

Recent strategic investment by Mova (backed by Aqua) to embed Naoris security into card payments and settlement systems is a very concrete institutional signal: it’s not just theory, it’s a real integration roadmap for secure payments. 

Token Utility: post-quantum proofs, security modules, institutional integrations (cards, settlement). For investors watching “security + institutional rails,” Naoris is one of the most exciting crypto coins to watch.

4) Trust Wallet Token (TWT)

TWT is the governance/utility token inside one of the world’s most downloaded crypto wallets. Its strengths are practical: in-wallet utility, discounts, governance and integrations with decentralized apps. 

While it’s not the hyper-volatile, small-cap story, TWT is a popular cryptocurrency token with real user base and liquidity — a lower-volatility cheap token that appeals to pragmatic investors looking for utility rather than headline pump narratives.

5) Alchemy Pay (ACH)

Alchemy Pay is a fiat-on/off-ramp payments protocol. Recent regulatory wins (a South Dakota Money Transmitter License) and functional integrations — like supporting DASH purchases via fiat rails — expanded usable markets and real utility. 

Token utility includes network fees, staking, and incentivizing merchant on-ramps. This is one of the best cheap crypto tokens to buy now if you want exposure to payments infrastructure rather than pure token speculation.

Which Cheap Crypto Is Most Likely To Explode? 

• Launchpad / AI Plays (High Beta): Surge — catalysts, strong volume, token utility tied to fundraising and allocations make it a candidate to explode short-term and fits in bullish crypto token under $1 range.

• Privacy / RWA Infrastructure (Event-Driven): Dusk — big infrastructure partnerships like Chainlink can re-rate an asset quickly.

• Security / Institutional (Mid-To-Long Term): Naoris — a real institutional investment/partnership (Mova) is the kind of fundamental story that can compound over months.

• Payments / Utility (Lower Volatility): Alchemy Pay, Trust Wallet Token — slower, steadier growth tied to adoption and regulatory clarity.

What Counts As A “Cheap” Crypto Under $1?

A token under $1 is cheap by unit price, but unit price alone is meaningless without context (supply, market cap, use case). A $0.02 token with a 100B supply is a different risk profile to a $0.50 token with a 100M supply. So use market cap, liquidity and roadmap to judge whether it’s “cheap” or simply bullish crypto token under $1.

Risks In Penny Crypto / Cheap Tokens

• Illiquidity: Hard to exit without slippage.

• Concentration / Rug Risk: Small teams or tokenomics that concentrate supply with insiders.

• Pump-and-Dump: Social-driven spikes that evaporate quickly.

• Regulatory Risk: Privacy and payments tokens face shifting rules.

• Tech Risk: Security bugs, bridge exploits or failed integrations.

If you buy bullish crypto token under $1, size positions small, use limit orders, and always DYOR.

Can Altcoins Under $1 Outperform The Market?

Yes — absolutely. Historically some low-priced altcoins have outperformed and “touched $1” or beyond for example XRP — but the paths are noisy and binary. Outperformance usually follows a meaningful adoption story (real integrations, partnerships, or a sudden shift in investor narrative). 

You as an investor separate speculative chatter from repeatable utility — look for on-chain activity, real integrations (like Mova → Naoris or Chainlink → Dusk), and sustainable volume.

Bottom Line

Bullish crypto tokens under $1 can change a portfolio — for better or worse. Surge and Dusk are “high-beta” speculative plays right now; Naoris is a narrative-heavy institutional/security play with a concrete investment headline; Alchemy Pay and Trust Wallet Token are utility and payments bets that move slower but tend to be less explosive in the downside. 

All are cryptos under $1 worth watching, but none are guaranteed. Treat them as research-first opportunities: size small, plan exits, and don’t mistake a headline for a safe bet.

Disclaimer: This is not financial advice. Please DYOR before investing. CoinGabbar is not responsible for any financial losses. Crypto assets are highly volatile, and you can lose your entire investment. All the live prices data is taken from CoinMarketCap as of January 21, 2026.