Crypto Tokens Under $1 Gaining Massive Attention in February 2026

Why These Crypto Tokens Under $1 Are Trending in February 2026

The crypto market is green today, but a few low cost altcoins are doing far more than just following Bitcoin. Several crypto tokens under $1 are gaining strong momentum in February 2026, driven by network upgrades, exchange listings, and rising on-chain activity.

Trending crypto tokens under $1 like Zilliqa (ZIL), Stacks (STX), WAR, Jupiter (JUP), and Sentient (SENT) are drawing heavy attention after sharp price jumps, rising volumes, and strong community chatter.

These moves are not random. Each token has its own trigger. Some are short-term trades, some are longer-term infrastructure bets, and a few sit firmly in high-risk territory.

Key Reasons Behind the Price Surge in Crypto Tokens Under $1

All five tokens are under $1, but they’re moving for different reasons:

• Zilliqa (ZIL): Cancun upgrade, EVM compatibility, volume surge  

• Stacks (STX): Bitcoin DeFi growth and institutional ETP demand  

• WAR: Exchange listing-driven speculation  

• Jupiter (JUP): Institutional investment and Solana ecosystem expansion  

• Sentient (SENT): Korean exchange listings and AI narrative

Comparison Table: Trending Crypto Tokens Under $1 (Market Snapshot)

Below is a snapshot of today’s top low-cost crypto tokens showing strong bullish momentum.

Source : CoinMarketCap market data, February 3, 2026 (UTC)

These Crypto Tokens Under $1 Gaining Strong Momentum Today

1) Zilliqa (ZIL): Upgrade Hype Meets Heavy Volume

Zilliqa is the standout mover today. Zilliqa is a Layer-1 blockchain focused on high-throughput smart contracts using sharding technology.

ZIL jumped more than 70% in 24 hours, trading around $0.0069–$0.0073, while the broader market moved only a few percent. Volume exploded, crossing $300 million, which tells you this wasn’t a quiet pump — traders rushed in.

The reason is simple: the Cancun network upgrade is about to go live on mainnet. This upgrade is part of Zilliqa’s push toward Zilliqa 2.0 and better EVM compatibility, making it easier for Ethereum-based apps to run on the network.

Zilliqa has always been pitched as a high-speed Layer-1, but adoption lagged. Now, with EVM tools and a fresh narrative, traders see ZIL as a “cheap crypto project”.

Token Utility : ZIL is used for gas fees, staking, and securing the network. If developers actually move over after the upgrade, this rally could hold. If not, expect sharp profit-taking. Right now, it’s pure momentum mixed with real tech news.

2) Stacks (STX): Bitcoin DeFi Is Back in Focus

Stacks had a strong day too, STX rising nearly 20% and trading just under $0.30. Stacks is a Bitcoin Layer-2 that enables smart contracts and DeFi applications secured by Bitcoin.

This move isn’t coming from hype alone. Stacks is one of the few projects directly tied to Bitcoin DeFi — lending, yield, and smart contracts that settle around BTC. As institutional interest shifts back to Bitcoin-based products, STX benefits.

Another big factor is accessibility. The launch of regulated investment products like the 21Shares STX ETP has made it easier for funds to gain exposure without touching exchanges.

Token Utility : STX isn’t a meme. It’s an infrastructure play. The token is used for smart contracts, transaction fees, and “stacking,” where holders earn Bitcoin rewards. If Bitcoin DeFi keeps growing in 2026, STX stays relevant.

3) WAR: Fast Money, High Risk

WAR is moving for very different reasons. WAR surged over 50% in a day and more than 250% in a week, mostly driven by social media buzz and a Bitrue Alpha listing. 

This kind of move is classic speculative behavior.

There’s no deep product story here yet. WAR is trading on narrative, attention, and speed. That doesn’t mean it can’t go higher — it just means risk is extremely high.

For traders, WAR is a momentum play. For long-term investors, it’s one to approach carefully.

4) Jupiter (JUP): Institutional Confidence Matters

Jupiter’s move is quieter but more solid. JUP gained around 7%, supported by news of a $35 million strategic investment from ParaFi Capital. That kind of backing doesn’t chase hype — it looks for infrastructure that already works.

Jupiter is one of the most important liquidity and swap aggregators on Solana. It helps users get the best trade prices across multiple DEXs. The token is used for governance and ecosystem incentives.

Add to that new product integrations like prediction markets, and Jupiter starts to look like a long-term Solana backbone rather than just another token.

5) Sentient (SENT): Listings + AI Narrative

Sentient didn’t pump as hard today, but the bigger picture matters.

SENT is up over 80% in 30 days, helped by Korean exchange listings on Upbit and Bithumb. Those listings open the door to massive retail demand, especially for lower-priced tokens.

Sentient positions itself as an open-source AI infrastructure project, which fits perfectly into the current AI-crypto rotation. Some traders believe the project has real products; others are simply riding the listing wave.

This is a token to watch closely. If development follows the hype, it could stick. If not, volume may fade once listing excitement cools.

Final Take: Are These Tokens Under $1 Worth Watching?

Today’s trending crypto tokens under $1 show clear on-chain and off-chain catalysts. Network upgrades, exchange listings, institutional vehicles, and token-specific investment flows have outpaced the broader market. 

That’s pushing rotation into high-beta, lower-priced names — the kind of moves that lure both short-term traders and longer-term speculators hunting a multi-bag. Expect volatility: big pumps often attract profit-taking and swift retracements.

For short-term traders, volatility creates opportunity.

For long-term holders, only a few of these truly qualify as infrastructure bets.

As always, this is not financial advice. Crypto moves fast, sentiment flips faster, and profits disappear if risk isn’t managed. 

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 February 03, 2026.