Tokens Under $1 Gaining Volume as India Tightens Crypto Tax

India Tightens Crypto Tax Rules: Why Tokens Under $1 Are Back in Focus

India is preparing to tighten penalties for crypto tax violations, and for anyone active in digital assets, this development matters more than it might first appear. Some crypto tokens under $1 are showing strong momentum. 

Crypto profits in India already face a flat 30% tax, along with a 1% TDS on most transactions, and there’s little room to adjust losses against gains. Now, the government is expected to tighten the screws further — zeroing in on cases where income isn’t reported properly, filings are inaccurate, or TDS isn’t deducted or deposited on time.

That shift will increase the stakes across the board. It doesn’t just put individual traders under greater scrutiny, but also raises compliance risks for exchanges and crypto platforms operating in India.

For investors, this environment is already changing behavior. Fast flipping is becoming far less attractive. What we’re seeing instead is a gradual shift toward longer-term positions, especially in low-priced tokens under $1 that show real traction, steady development, and growing communities.

Even in a cautious broader market, a few such tokens are quietly pulling in volume and attention.

Key Highlights: Top Crypto Tokens Under $1 in February 2026

Even as total crypto market capitalization has slipped, some crypto projects are moving against the trend.

1. Stable (STABLE) — For utility-first exposure: network upgrade + payments integrations make it a core candidate for on-chain payments plays.

2. UnifAI Network (UAI) — AI + DeFi narrative with strong volume and partnerships; higher risk/reward but high on developer interest.

3. OWB — Momentum trade: large intraday breakout and liquidity rotation — trade sized for risk tolerance.

4. Canton (CC) — Institutional narrative and steady adoption signals; better suited for medium/long-term investors believing in enterprise rails. 

Market Overview: Key Signals Impacting Tokens Under $1

• Macro/regulatory: India’s 2026 Budget strengthened reporting and penalties for crypto intermediaries — that increases compliance costs and the importance of transparent on-chain activity. Projects with clear auditability and exchange reporting are comparatively less risky in this environment.
  

• Technical signals: OWB and UnifAI show classic coin-specific breakouts — watch Fibonacci levels, RSI and MACD for entries and possible blow-off tops. Stable’s upgrade is a fundamental driver (less speculative, more utility).
  

• Liquidity: UnifAI’s surge came with very high 24-hour volume (~$26–27M) — volume confirms conviction; OWB’s large % moves reflect smaller market caps and higher volatility.

Trending Crypto Tokens Under $1: February 2026 Comparison

Below is a market snapshot sourced from CoinMarketCap as of 02 February 2026.

Source : CoinMarketCap as of 02 Feb 2026

Top Tokens Under $1 Showing Bullish Momentum

1) OWB: Momentum-Driven Token Under $1 With Expansion Plans

OWB has been one of the most aggressive movers in recent sessions, jumping 73.88% in the last 24 hours while the broader market fell sharply.

The rally didn’t come out of nowhere. Price pushed above a long-watched technical resistance level, which triggered fresh buying. At the same time, interest around OWB’s mobile-first ecosystem and its planned Base chain integration has been building quietly.

OWB is used across its network for transactions, staking, and governance. The roadmap focuses on scaling mobile adoption and bringing in developers, which helps explain why liquidity surged alongside price. This looks less like a random spike and more like a classic altcoin rotation trade with follow-through.

2) UnifAI Network (UAI): AI-Focused Token Under $1 Gaining Volume

UnifAI Network has been outperforming the market with a 16.27% daily gain, backed by a sharp rise in volume — up 415% to $27.3 million.

UnifAI is building AI-native DeFi — autonomous agents that trade, lend and optimize on-chain. Recent partnership signals (Polymarket Builders program) plus strong volume spikes have propelled UAI into the spotlight among AI-crypto plays.

What is UnifAI Network?

A protocol enabling autonomous AI agents for finance: algorithmic trading, yield optimization and agent-based tools aimed at retail and pro traders.

AI agents interact with on-chain markets, submit trades, manage strategies and allocate liquidity via smart contracts.

Token utilities are paid for agent execution, staking for protocol incentives, governance and developer grants. This is an AI-Token trading under $1.  

3) Stable (STABLE): Payments-Focused Token Under $1 With Real Usage

Stable has been one of the more consistent performers, STABLE rising 16.06% in the past 24 hours and over 31% across the week. Over the last month, it’s up nearly 49%.

The move lines up with expectations around its v1.2.0 mainnet upgrade, scheduled for February 4, which improves network performance and settlement speed. On top of that, partnerships such as Chipper Cash have helped anchor Stable’s role in real-world payments.

STABLE is used for transaction fees, validator staking, and liquidity incentives. What stands out here is that activity isn’t just speculative — transaction demand is gradually increasing, which the market tends to reward over time.

The rally is tied to the v1.2.0 mainnet upgrade scheduled for February 4, improving throughput and settlement speed.

4) Canton (CC): Institutional Blockchain Token Under $1

Canton isn’t the loudest name in the market, but it’s one of the most structurally interesting.

Priced around $0.182, Canton rose 22.23% over the past week, even as overall crypto market capitalization dropped more than 5%. That kind of divergence usually points to long-term conviction.

Canton is built for regulated financial institutions, with privacy-enabled infrastructure designed for compliance-heavy environments. Its ongoing integrations with firms like JPMorgan and DTCC continue to support the institutional adoption narrative.

The CC token is used for network security, governance, and transaction settlement. While it doesn’t move explosively day to day, it’s increasingly seen as a slow-build project with serious backing.

Final Thoughts: Best Tokens Under $1 to Watch in February 2026

As India prepares to enforce tougher crypto tax rules, investor behavior is clearly shifting. The focus is moving away from quick speculation and toward projects that show actual use, steady trading activity, and clear signs of execution.

OWB, UnifAI Network, Stable, and Canton all trade below the $1 mark, but the interest in each comes from different places — short-term momentum, applied technology, growing real-world adoption, and institutional infrastructure.

For long-term investors navigating February 2026, these are the most compelling low-cost crypto projects under $1 right now.

In a more regulated environment, those differences are no longer secondary. They’re becoming the main reason capital chooses one token over another. 

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 02, 2026.