Austin Arnold Reveals His Top 6 Altcoin Selections for 2026

In a video released on January 1, titled “Top 6 Crypto Altcoins To Invest In For 2026,” Austin Arnold, the host of Altcoin Daily, shared what he believes to be three key catalysts for the cryptocurrency market in 2026. He also presented a list of six altcoins he intends to "buy and hold" as these trends unfold. His selections encompass various sectors, including smart-contract platforms, AI infrastructure, and projects focused on tokenization.

Key Takeaways:

Austin Arnold identifies three catalysts for the crypto market in 2026: monetary policy shifts, favorable regulation, and tokenization initiatives.
His top six altcoin picks include Ethereum, Solana, Cardano, Bittensor, Ondo Finance, and Propy.
Each altcoin addresses different trends within the crypto space, including stablecoins, usage growth, privacy, AI infrastructure, tokenization, and real estate transactions.
The cryptocurrency market cap currently stands at $2.98 trillion.

Top 6 Crypto Altcoin Picks For 2026

Arnold emphasized that the cryptocurrency landscape is influenced by two major trends: digital asset growth and the tokenization of financial assets. He argued that upcoming changes in macroeconomic policies, U.S. legislation, and the SEC's stance could potentially lead to "trillions of dollars" in new investments.

Key Catalysts for Growth

1. Shift in Monetary Policy

Arnold highlighted a major shift in monetary policy, which includes the expected return of "reserve management purchases." He views this change as supportive for risky assets. "We’re starting to see significant stimulus," he stated, noting that the market is already experiencing a form of 'quantitative easing light' as the Federal Reserve begins purchasing its own bonds. He indicated that demand for government debt may decline alongside lower interest rates.

2. Crypto Regulation

Next, Arnold discussed the potential for crypto-specific regulations to encourage institutional investment. He pointed to the Clarity Act, which aims to clarify market structure, suggesting its approval would act as a green light for Ethereum (ETH) and Solana (SOL) to gain substantial market value. Discussions in the Senate regarding the Act may take place as early as January 15, with hopes for progress by the end of January or February.

3. Tokenization Initiatives

Finally, Arnold brought attention to a tokenization initiative led by SEC Chair Paul Atkins, which he referred to as "Project Crypto." This initiative aims to transition traditional finance onto the blockchain. Arnold complemented this point with insights on the rapid growth of spot crypto ETFs, stating, "These were the single best-selling product in the world and no one was allowed to make a phone call to sell it or advertise it."

Top 6 Altcoins to Consider for 2026

Arnold’s first choice is Ethereum. He argues that Ethereum will greatly benefit from the expanding market for stablecoins, noting that most stablecoins operate on its blockchain. He linked this to potential regulatory changes through the Genius Act, stating that the sector could witness a tenfold increase in the coming years. He mentioned that Ethereum's share of stablecoin transactions grew to 53%, and he believes that as fees on Ethereum increase, the amount of ETH being burned should also rise significantly.

His second recommendation is Solana, which he described as a leader in usage compared to its market value relative to Ethereum. Arnold claimed that Solana is “one of the most used chains in crypto,” stating that its usage is two to three times higher than the entire sector combined. Additionally, he noted a significant milestone with Solana, reporting that it has over 125,000 Real-World Asset (RWA) holders.

Cardano is his third pick. Although its performance in 2025 was lackluster, Arnold believes that the founder Charles Hoskinson's new project, Midnight, could change that narrative. He shared Hoskinson's thoughts on how the privacy features of Midnight could attract new users to the platform.

Shifting focus to AI, Arnold recommends Bittensor (TAO), explaining that it serves as “decentralized AI” infrastructure. He compared its supply model to Bitcoin's, noting a recent halving event. He also mentioned that 2026 ETF interest for TAO is picking up, as Grayscale and Bitwise have filed for TAO-related ETFs.

For those interested in tokenization, Arnold pointed out Ondo Finance (ONDO), anticipating its upcoming summit on February 3 where investors and policymakers will gather. He concluded his list with Propy, a project focused on real estate that he emphasized as being US licensed for title and escrow closing and backed by Coinbase. He described it as a speculative investment but mentioned its potential in bringing real estate transactions onto the blockchain.

Arnold cautioned that lower-cap projects like Propy can be highly risky, but he remains optimistic about the overall investment thesis: applying tokenization logic to real estate by transitioning parts of the buying and selling process onto the blockchain—especially as regulatory clarity increases in 2026.

As of this report, the total cryptocurrency market capitalization is approximately $2.98 trillion.

Total crypto market cap remains below its 2021 peak, as seen in the one-week chart | Source: TOTAL on TradingView.com