Crypto Tokens Under $1 Defying Market Trends in February 2026

Trending Crypto Tokens Under $1 — February 2026 Price & Market Data

Over the past week, crypto tokens under $1 have started moving against the broader market trend. While Bitcoin struggles to hold momentum and Ethereum faces sustained liquidation pressure, several low-cost crypto projects are gaining traction through rising volume, fresh liquidity, and strong community activity.

This shift is not random. Capital is rotating away from large caps and into low-priced altcoins under $1, driven by clear catalysts such as exchange listings, airdrops, AI narrative momentum, and ecosystem launches.

Comparison Table : Crypto Tokens Under $1: February 2026 Price, Volume, and Supply 

Below is a snapshot of the most actively traded crypto tokens under $1 showing momentum in February 2026.

Source : CoinMarketCap market data, February 4, 2026 (UTC)

Top Crypto Tokens Under $1 Showing Strength Despite Market Weakness

Here’s why Baby Shark Universe, Moonbirds, Tria, AI Rig Complex, and ETHGas are back on market radars and emerging as potential February 2026 buys.

1) Baby Shark Universe (BSU): Gaming Tokens Are Rotating Back

Baby Shark Universe (BSU) is trading around $0.14, with a market cap just above $24 million, yet daily trading volume recently crossed $50 million — a mismatch that usually signals speculation mixed with fresh demand.

As large-cap narratives cooled, traders started rotating into gaming and NFT-linked tokens again. BSU fits that profile perfectly. It sits at the intersection of gaming, NFTs, and a globally recognized entertainment brand. 

Recent wallet data shows new holders entering after a token swap tied to the Baby Shark Meme ecosystem, expanding its holder base.

Despite being down on the 7-day chart, BSU rebounded strongly in the last 24 hours while the broader crypto market slipped. This divergence signals that capital is selectively flowing into gaming and NFT-linked tokens rather than moving blindly with the market.

For low-cost crypto projects, brand recognition plus active development often create sudden momentum waves. BSU is currently riding one of those waves.

2) Moonbirds (BIRB): Exchange Listings Changed Everything

Moonbirds (BIRB) jumped over 13% in a single day, trading near $0.28, and the reason is simple: liquidity arrived. Listings on Upbit, Bithumb, and LBank opened Moonbirds to South Korean retail traders, and the effect was immediate. Reported 24-hour volume spiked by more than 700%, pushing BIRB into the spotlight.

South Korea has historically been a high-impact market for altcoin volume, which explains the speed of BIRB’s move after these listings.

Moonbirds already had a strong NFT brand narrative. What it lacked was easy access. Once that barrier disappeared, speculative interest followed fast.

Social sentiment has been just as loud. Comparisons to earlier NFT-backed tokens like Pudgy Penguins started circulating, pulling in short-term traders hunting for similar upside. 

Technically, the token pushed into overbought territory — a warning sign — but strong volume often keeps momentum alive longer than expected.

Among crypto tokens under $1, Moonbirds currently has one of the clearest catalysts: new liquidity + active community chatter.

3) Tria (TRIA): A Wallet Token Getting Real Attention

Tria’s move has been quieter, but arguably more interesting.

Trading below $0.02, Tria (TRIA) surged nearly 27% in 24 hours, matching its 7-day gain almost perfectly. This wasn’t a random spike. The token launched across KuCoin, Bybit, and BingX, and new listings still matter — especially for low-cap projects.

But Tria isn’t just another exchange pop.

The project is focused on wallet infrastructure, gas abstraction, and making cross-chain usage simpler for regular users. That’s not flashy, but it’s practical. When traders look for long-term low-cost crypto projects, utility like this tends to attract steadier interest than meme-only plays.

The circulating supply is large, which means prices won’t move without real demand. Right now, that demand is visible in volume and sustained buying pressure — not just a single candle.

4) AI Rig Complex (ARC): AI Narrative Is Back, Aggressively

AI Rig Complex (ARC) surged over 59% in 24 hours, extending its weekly rally to nearly 50%, even while the broader crypto market fell. 

Volume jumped above $30 million, and Binance Futures activity accelerated the move further through short liquidations. This is classic AI-token behavior.

Whenever the market turns defensive, traders often rotate into AI narratives, treating them as high-growth hedges. ARC benefits from that rotation. 

It positions itself as a developer-focused AI infrastructure project, and while fundamentals matter long-term, momentum traders care more about narrative alignment.

That said, RSI levels are deeply overbought. Pullbacks are likely. But heavy whale accumulation during futures spikes suggests this isn’t just retail noise.

At the time of writing in early February 2026, ARC remains one of the most actively traded AI tokens under $1.

5) ETHGas (GWEI): Infrastructure Plays Don’t Need Hype

While speculative tokens chased narratives, ETHGas (GWEI) climbed nearly 12% in 24 hours, extending a 105% monthly rally, even as global sentiment stayed in extreme fear. 

This makes ETHGas appealing not just to traders, but to Ethereum users looking for more predictable transaction costs.

The ETHGas airdrop rewarded Ethereum users based on historical gas usage. That brought in thousands of wallets immediately. Add perpetual contract listings on Binance and KuCoin, and suddenly GWEI had both users and traders.

Infrastructure tokens rarely explode overnight, but they also don’t fade as fast. ETHGas benefits from Ethereum’s constant demand for cheaper, more efficient transaction mechanics. That gives it a stronger base than many short-lived pumps.

Are These Crypto Tokens Under $1 Worth Adding to Your Portfolio?

With momentum building, the real question for traders is whether these tokens deserve a place in a portfolio.

Why traders are watching them now 

Low unit price, real world/product narratives (NFT IP, AI tooling, wallet UX, gas primitives), and recent catalysts (listings, airdrops, roadmaps) create conditions for rapid upside. The table above shows concrete market metrics that explain why traders moved in.

Risks to consider

Small-cap tokens are volatile. Many moves are driven by listings, airdrops, or short-term narrative rotations. Token supply, lockups, and real product adoption matter — and any one of those can reverse price quickly. Always check circulating vs. total supply, vesting schedules, and team vesting docs before assuming sustainable gains.

Portfolio positioning

If you’re considering allocation, treat each pick as a speculative position (small % of portfolio), set clear entry/exit rules, and follow on-chain signals and product milestones (app usage, NFT sales, integrations). This is plain portfolio hygiene for tokens that trade on sentiment + fundamentals.

Bottom Line 

These five crypto tokens under $1 — BSU, BIRB, ARC, TRIA, and GWEI — are showing short-term momentum in February 2026, driven by airdrops, exchange listings, and strong narrative alignment today. They can offer outsized returns but carry high volatility; use small, disciplined positions and watch on-chain and product signals closely.

Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and not financial advice. Crypto assets are highly volatile. Always do your own research. All the live prices data is taken from CoinMarketCap as of February 04, 2026.