The cryptocurrency market in 2026 is increasingly favoring projects with tangible utility over speculative hype, with a particular focus on tokens offering clear value propositions and practical use cases. Among the emerging projects gaining significant analyst attention are Zero Knowledge Proof (ZKP), LiquidChain (LIQUID), HuntFi (HUFI), and AgoraLend (AGORA).
Zero Knowledge Proof (ZKP) is highlighted as a leading contender, building a privacy-preserving AI computation Layer 1 blockchain. Its presale, structured as a transparent 450-day daily auction with no private allocations, has crossed $1.87 million in total contributions. Currently in Stage 2: Round 4 with only 5 days remaining, the daily token supply has stepped down to 190 million from 200 million in Stage 1 to promote scarcity. Analysts cite growing demand for private AI infrastructure and predict potential returns ranging from 100x to over 600x as adoption expands across data security, finance, and healthcare. The expected launch price is near $0.00136.
LiquidChain (LIQUID) is developing a Layer 3 network designed to unify liquidity by fusing Bitcoin's capital depth, Ethereum's DeFi infrastructure, and Solana's transaction speed. Its presale has raised over $500,000, with more than 30 million tokens locked in staking incentives. The project aims to tackle liquidity fragmentation across major blockchains.
HuntFi (HUFI) brings a move-to-earn augmented reality gaming experience to the TON ecosystem via a Telegram mini app. It encourages physical activity by allowing users to find treasure chests in real-world locations to earn HUFI tokens. The presale offers staking rewards of up to 150% APY and leverages TON's scalable network.
AgoraLend (AGORA) offers a permissionless lending platform focused on unlocking liquidity for all ERC-20 tokens, including niche assets often overlooked by major DeFi protocols. It uses a hybrid peer-to-peer and peer-to-contract model with a fair-launch structure, featuring progressive pricing, token burns, and community revenue sharing.
In related market movements, Chainlink (LINK) has experienced significant selling pressure, with its price cratering 21% weekly to $8.9, a multi-year low. Aggressive exchange inflows of 3.8 million LINK indicate whale selling, with the token's RSI hitting a deeply oversold level of 20. Conversely, Litecoin (LTC) is showing resilience, stabilizing above its $55–$60 support zone. Analysts see mid-term targets of $100-$120 and a macro path toward $180-$200, bolstered by news that Japan's SBI VC Trade has added Litecoin lending services.
