Solana DEX Volume Tops Ethereum 2.22x on One-Eighth the Capital

Solana DEX Volume Tops Ethereum 2.22x on One-Eighth the Capital

by | Oct 19, 2026 | Ethereum

Tokens worth $1.57 billion changed hands on Solana's decentralised exchanges in the 24 hours to Monday morning, October 19, more than double the $706 million recorded on Ethereum over the same period, according to CryptoTicker, citing DefiLlama data queried that morning. The Solana DEX volume came to $1.566 billion across all of the network's exchanges combined, even though its applications hold only about an eighth of the capital committed on Ethereum.

The divergence matters because it separates two stories that are often conflated: how much trading a network hosts and how much capital investors have committed to it. Sunday's turnover on Solana ran at 2.22 times the Ethereum figure, and the weekly comparison shows that lead growing, CryptoTicker reported.

Solana DEX Volume Against Committed Capital

Measured by total value locked, the capital investors have committed to a blockchain's applications, Ethereum holds $49.86 billion against Solana's $5.89 billion, which works out to roughly eight and a half times as much. Two networks whose committed capital differs by a factor of eight therefore come out in reverse order on trading volume.

Setting a day's trading against committed capital yields a turnover figure that the usual dashboards do not carry: it shows how frequently a single dollar changes hands within 24 hours. Solana's calculation divides $1.566 billion of volume by $5.89 billion of locked capital, giving 26.6 percent, meaning roughly a quarter of all committed capital passes through trading daily. Ethereum's equivalent math divides $706 million by $49.86 billion, giving 1.4 percent, which puts Solana's turnover around 19 times as high.

Across the full week, trading on Solana totalled $14.03 billion, 22.6 percent higher than the prior week. The same query for Ethereum shows a 20.5 percent daily increase to $705.9 million, while its weekly total of $8.07 billion was just 1.2 percent higher than the week before, CryptoTicker reported.

Why Cheap Blocks Drive Turnover

Turnover, taken as a metric, carries no verdict in either direction; it simply describes how a network is built. A high reading indicates heavy trading activity resting on a small capital base, while low turnover means capital sits and works rather than being moved.

A transaction on Solana costs fractions of a cent and a block closes in under a second, conditions under which a trade pays off at tiny price differences. Under those conditions, bots and aggregators repeatedly purchase an identical token on one venue and offload it on another within the same day, capturing spreads of only a few tenths of a percent each time, and each of those passes registers as volume in the statistics even though no fresh capital has flowed into the network, CryptoTicker reported.

The stablecoin base on Solana, money standing ready in dollar-pegged tokens such as USDC, came to $15.49 billion on Monday, around two and a half times the network's $5.89 billion in committed capital. Ethereum, by comparison, holds $144.04 billion in stablecoins against committed capital of $49.86 billion, a ratio of just under 3 to 1. On Solana an above-average share of money is parked in trading liquidity and a below-average share is tied up in lending and yield applications.

Committed Capital Counted in SOL

A dollar-measured TVL blends two components: the quantity of tokens deposited and the market price of those tokens, so the figure drops when the price falls even if nobody withdraws. CryptoTicker divided DefiLlama's daily TVL by CoinGecko's daily closing price over the past 120 days to strip out the price effect.

The result shows committed capital corresponded to 55.68 million SOL on October 19, down from 57.04 million on October 18 and 56.47 million on October 10. Looking back 90 days to July 21, the network held 63.75 million SOL, while the window's peak of 69.08 million was set on June 25. From that high, 19.4 percent of the deposited tokens have left in not quite four months, independent of the price, and on only 20 of 120 days was the figure lower than Monday's.

The counter-calculation separates the price problem from the quantity problem. From Sunday to Monday the SOL price rose 2.4 percent, from an average of $103.36 to $105.80, while committed capital slipped from $5.896 billion to $5.890 billion, a decline from 57.04 million to 55.68 million when counted in SOL. Daily volume picked up by a quarter over the same stretch, meaning the price rise came with more trading but less deposited capital, CryptoTicker reported.

Fees, Price Levels and ETF Flows

High turnover generates income. Fees accruing on the Solana blockchain added up to $9.71 million in the 24 hours to Monday morning and $79.76 million over seven days, according to DefiLlama data cited by CryptoTicker. Measured against committed capital of $5.89 billion, the daily figure amounts to a rate of 0.16 percent, which annualised puts it in the order of 60 percent of the capital committed today, an arithmetic check rather than a forecast because fees swing with trading. The check shows what the turnover ratio means economically: a network with little committed capital and a lot of trading earns from movement, not from sitting still.

SOL stood at $105.80 on Monday morning, 2.7 percent above the previous day but still 6.0 percent below its level a week ago, according to CoinGecko data as of October 19, 8:45 UTC. In the 24 hours to Monday morning the low was $100.48 and the high $106.05, leaving the price 5.3 percent above the daily low and 0.2 percent below the daily high. Solana's market capitalisation stood at $62.4 billion, with 589.4 million SOL in circulation out of a total of 636.0 million.

To the upside the next marker is the level of October 12, when SOL averaged $111.25 over the day; to the downside the round $100 stands, and its defence has now been running for five days. SOL remains 63.9 percent below its all-time high of $293.31 reached on January 19, 2025.

Fund flows tell a parallel story. Investors withdrew about $1 billion from spot Ethereum and Solana ETFs from October 1 to 16, with Ethereum funds seeing net outflows of $954.8 million and Solana funds $54.9 million, AOL reported. Relative to fund size, Ethereum's outflow represents about 6.4 percent of its $14.95 billion in net assets, while Solana's stands at about 3.4 percent of $1.62 billion, suggesting Ethereum ETF holders are exiting faster despite Solana's longer outflow streak. Solana's last ETF inflow was $1.3 million on October 2.

Alpenglow Upgrade and What Comes Next

Solana's Alpenglow upgrade on October 21 is the next catalyst, according to AOL, which described it as an update aimed at improving how validators reach consensus on new transactions. A positive ETF session afterward, the first inflow since October 2, would be the clearest sign buyers have returned, AOL reported, adding that investor enthusiasm for Solana ETFs remains muted.

Over the past 90 days Solana returned 36.7 percent compared with Ethereum's 29.3 percent, and it held its key support level during the recent decline, AOL reported. From the newsroom's point of view, CryptoTicker wrote, the turnover carries the story of Solana as the fastest trading venue, but it does not carry the story of capital inflows: volume rose 22.6 percent over seven days while committed capital counted in SOL fell and the price lost 6.0 percent.

Sunday's emission question also remains open, because no vote has been held on proposal SIMD-0550 since, CryptoTicker reported. If volume rises while TVL falls, turnover grows and the network lives more off short-term trading.

Conclusion

The week's opening established a clear split: Solana's decentralised exchanges turned over $1.566 billion in 24 hours, 2.22 times Ethereum's volume, on $5.89 billion of committed capital against Ethereum's $49.86 billion, a turnover rate of 26.6 percent against 1.4 percent. Counted in tokens rather than dollars, Solana's committed capital has fallen 19.4 percent from its June 25 high, even as trading rose 22.6 percent week on week.

The next concrete marker is the Alpenglow upgrade on October 21, followed by whether Solana ETFs record their first inflow since October 2. A vote on emissions proposal SIMD-0550 also remains pending.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much did Solana DEX volume reach on October 19, 2026?

Tokens worth $1.57 billion changed hands on Solana's decentralised exchanges in the 24 hours to Monday morning, October 19, with the combined figure across all Solana DEXs at $1.566 billion, according to DefiLlama data cited by CryptoTicker. Ethereum recorded $706 million over the same period.

How does Solana's committed capital compare with Ethereum's?

Ethereum holds $49.86 billion in total value locked against Solana's $5.89 billion, a ratio of 8.5 to 1 in Ethereum's favour. Despite that gap, Solana traded 2.22 times Ethereum's DEX volume on Sunday, giving it a daily turnover of 26.6 percent of committed capital versus Ethereum's 1.4 percent.

What is daily turnover and why is Solana's 26.6 percent significant?

Daily turnover sets a day's trading volume against committed capital, showing how often the same dollar moves in a day. Solana's 26.6 percent means roughly a quarter of all committed capital passes through trading daily, around 19 times Ethereum's rate, reflecting a design where cheap, sub-second transactions make small-spread trading viable.

How much have Solana and Ethereum ETF investors withdrawn in October 2026?

Investors withdrew about $1 billion from spot Ethereum and Solana ETFs from October 1 to 16, AOL reported. Ethereum funds saw net outflows of $954.8 million, about 6.4 percent of their $14.95 billion in net assets, while Solana funds lost $54.9 million, about 3.4 percent of $1.62 billion.

When is Solana's Alpenglow upgrade and what would signal renewed demand?

The Alpenglow upgrade is scheduled for October 21, 2026, and is aimed at improving how validators reach consensus on new transactions, according to AOL. The clearest sign that buyers have returned would be a positive Solana ETF session afterward, the first inflow since a modest $1.3 million on October 2.

Sources

JPMorgan to Bring JPM Coin Deposit Token to Ethereum for Institutional Clients

JPMorgan to Bring JPM Coin Deposit Token to Ethereum for Institutional Clients

by | Oct 19, 2026 | Ethereum

JPMorgan plans to open its JPM Coin token, which stands for dollar deposits held at the bank, to institutional clients on the Ethereum network, Bloomberg reported on Monday, October 19, 2026. The move extends the token beyond Base, the layer-2 blockchain built by Coinbase Global, where JPM Coin first launched in November 2025.

The expansion marks a step by the largest U.S. bank toward using public blockchain infrastructure for institutional payments and settlement, rather than relying solely on its private network. JPM Coin lets eligible clients transfer funds within seconds, around the clock. According to the bank, Ethereum's deep liquidity draws crypto companies that want to pay onchain as well as financial firms settling trades or backing tokenized assets.

Why JPMorgan chose Ethereum for JPM Coin

Emma Landriault, the head of Kinexys Labs at JPMorgan's blockchain division Kinexys, told Bloomberg in an interview that Ethereum won out because it carries deeper liquidity than competing networks and the bank's institutional clients already use it, according to CoinDesk. Landriault said JPMorgan picked the network for its liquidity and existing use among clients, Cointelegraph reported.

Opening the token up more broadly is meant to serve two groups, Landriault said: crypto firms looking to make payments onchain, and financial firms that require a digital token for settling trades or backing tokenized assets. Landriault did not say when JPM Coin would become available on Ethereum, CoinDesk reported.

Landriault framed the expansion as part of a broader trend. "We've clearly been in a year of further convergence between Wall Street and crypto," she said, according to CoinGape. "It's not just Wall Street going to public chains, but the institutional web3 players getting more embedded and partnering with traditional financial institutions," she added.

How the JPM Coin token works

JPM Coin represents U.S. dollar deposits held at JPMorgan and is built so institutional clients can move money and settle payments at any hour, with near real-time finality. The token is issued by Kinexys, JPMorgan's blockchain business unit, and the bank describes it as the first bank-issued USD-denominated deposit token, with the ticker JPMD.

Even though issuance happens on public networks, access to JPM Coin stays limited to vetted institutional participants, Cointelegraph reported. Crypto information platform Unfolded said the expansion points to banks making greater use of public blockchains, while noting that JPM Coin's status as a regulated bank deposit token means it is not broadly designed to integrate with decentralized finance, bloomingbit reported.

Deposit tokens like JPM Coin differ from stablecoins issued by non-bank companies: rather than a claim on reserves parked with a separate issuer, the token is a direct claim on deposits sitting at a regulated bank. The token got its start as an internal settlement mechanism, letting JPMorgan's institutional customers transact with one another over a permissioned network run by the bank, according to KuCoin.

From Base and Canton to Ethereum

The Ethereum plan comes after JPMorgan rolled out JPM Coin in November 2025 on Base, a layer-2 network tied to crypto exchange Coinbase. When it launched there, the bank signaled it intended to add more public blockchains over time, Cointelegraph reported.

The bank had already flagged a move outside Base in January, when Digital Asset and Kinexys by J.P. Morgan announced their intent to collaborate on the native issuance of JPM Coin on the Canton Network, a blockchain built with privacy features for coordinated financial markets. Under that collaboration, institutions using Canton would be able to issue, transfer, and redeem JPMD near-instantly, with an initial focus on establishing the technical and business frameworks to support issuance, transfer, and redemption directly on the network.

"This collaboration brings to life the vision of regulated digital cash that can move at the speed of markets," said Yuval Rooz, co-founder and CEO of Digital Asset, in the January announcement. Naveen Mallela, global co-head of Kinexys by J.P. Morgan, said at the time that the token pairs the safety of deposits issued and settled by a bank with round-the-clock, near real-time transactions on a blockchain.

JPMorgan's broader blockchain push

The expansion takes JPMorgan's blockchain work past its in-house Kinexys network, which handles upwards of $7 billion in daily transactions, a small piece of the bank's $12 trillion a day payments business, CoinDesk reported. JPMorgan has been among the most active banks in the sector, having processed significant transaction volume through Kinexys, formerly known as Onyx, according to KuCoin.

Banks have embraced tokenization, but mostly away from public networks. In the U.S., JPMorgan, Citi, Bank of America and Wells Fargo, along with more than a dozen other banks, have plans to start a shared network for tokenized deposits, CoinDesk reported. Outside the country, JPMorgan counts among the 30-plus banks working with Swift, the interbank messaging service, to shape the features and governance of Swift's planned blockchain-based ledger.

Almost $50 billion worth of crypto assets are locked in Ethereum-based applications, according to DeFiLlama data cited by CoinDesk. Putting JPM Coin on Ethereum could make institutional players more comfortable with public blockchain rails and possibly prompt rival banks to do the same, KuCoin reported.

What remains unknown about the rollout

Details on the specific scope of the Ethereum rollout, including which institutional clients will have access and what transaction types will be supported, were not fully specified in available reporting, according to KuCoin. Landriault gave no timeline for when the token would go live on the network.

JPMorgan had not responded to a CoinDesk request for details by publication time, and Cointelegraph said it contacted the bank for additional details but did not receive an immediate response. Available reporting indicates the expansion is aimed at institutional clients, not retail users, and does not indicate a shift toward retail cryptocurrency products at JPMorgan.

Conclusion

JPMorgan plans to make JPM Coin, its dollar-denominated deposit token for institutional clients, available on Ethereum, extending a rollout that began on Coinbase's Base network in November 2025 and was followed by a January plan to issue the token natively on the Canton Network. The bank has said Ethereum's liquidity and its existing use among institutional clients drove the choice, and the token will remain restricted to approved institutional participants.

The next concrete step is the Ethereum launch itself, for which Landriault gave no date. JPMorgan had not responded to requests for further detail from CoinDesk or Cointelegraph by publication time, leaving the timeline, eligible clients, and supported transaction types to be confirmed as the rollout progresses.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will JPM Coin be available on Ethereum?

No date has been given. Emma Landriault, head of Kinexys Labs at JPMorgan's blockchain division, did not say when JPM Coin would become available on Ethereum, CoinDesk reported. JPMorgan had not responded to requests for details from CoinDesk or Cointelegraph by publication time.

Why did JPMorgan choose Ethereum for JPM Coin?

Emma Landriault said JPMorgan chose Ethereum because the blockchain offers more liquidity than rival networks and is already used by institutional clients. The bank said Ethereum's liquidity makes it attractive for crypto companies seeking blockchain payments and financial firms settling trades or backing tokenized assets.

Who can use JPM Coin on Ethereum?

Only approved institutional clients. While the tokens are issued on public networks, JPM Coin will remain restricted to approved institutional participants, Cointelegraph reported. Available reporting indicates the expansion targets institutional payments and asset settlement rather than retail use.

How is JPM Coin different from a stablecoin?

JPM Coin is a deposit token representing a direct claim on dollar deposits held at JPMorgan, a regulated bank. Stablecoins are typically issued by non-bank companies backed by separate reserve assets. That distinction matters for institutional treasurers and compliance teams facing stricter rules on counterparty risk and custody.

What other blockchains support JPM Coin?

JPM Coin first launched in November 2025 on Base, the Ethereum layer-2 network built by Coinbase. In January, JPMorgan and Digital Asset announced plans to issue the token natively on the Canton Network, a privacy-enabled blockchain for institutional finance. Ethereum is the latest addition, with no launch date disclosed.

Sources

Ethereum Price Today: ETH Holds Near $2,417 With $3,000 Recovery Hinging on ETF Flows

Ethereum Price Today: ETH Holds Near $2,417 With $3,000 Recovery Hinging on ETF Flows

by | Oct 19, 2026 | Ethereum

The ethereum price today stood near $2,417 as of October 18, 2026, leaving the second-largest cryptocurrency roughly 24% below the $3,000 level it last traded above in January, according to 24/7 Wall St. The token enters the October 19 session after an 18.5% slide from its 2025 closing price of $2,967.

The gap matters because reclaiming $3,000 has become the market's shorthand for a genuine recovery, and the path there now runs through a short list of technical and fund-flow conditions, 24/7 Wall St. reported. Ether remains 51.1% below its August 2025 record high of $4,946, underscoring how far the token sits from both round-number resistance and its prior peak.

Ethereum Price Today After a Two-Week Slide

October has erased much of Ether's summer advance, and the ethereum price today reflects that reversal. The token closed at $2,706 at the start of the month, then shed 11.6% across the next two weeks, with a 5.2% decline in the week ended October 17, according to 24/7 Wall St.

Selling pressure pushed ETH to an intraday low of $2,313 on October 15, its weakest point since the $2,220 trough reached on August 20. Closing prices near $2,420 on October 14 and October 16 were the softest since mid-September.

The pullback follows Ether's best monthly close of 2026, a September finish at $2,684. Buyers have since probed the $2,684 to $2,807 band without holding it, 24/7 Wall St. reported, leaving the ethereum price today well short of that range.

What a $3,000 Recovery Requires

From $2,417, ETH needs a gain of about 24.1%, or roughly $583 per coin, to reclaim $3,000. The first major hurdle sits at $2,807, the intraday high set on September 21 and the highest point since July; even clearing that would leave another 6.9% to the target, according to 24/7 Wall St.

The token last changed hands above $3,000 in January, when it hit a monthly high of $3,405, and it has not returned to that level since peaking at $2,474 in February. The most recent monthly close above $3,000 came in October 2025 at $3,846.

24/7 Wall St. outlined three conditions for a credible run at the mark: ETH must hold above the $2,313 October low, Ether ETFs must flip from outflows to steady inflows, and the price must break above $2,807 and stay there. A close below $2,313 could drag the token toward the $2,220 August low and push the $3,000 objective into 2027, the outlet reported.

ETF Outflows Weigh on the Ethereum Price Today

Funds that hold ETH on behalf of investors have recorded heavy net redemptions. Between October 1 and October 16, Ether ETFs saw $955 million leave, according to SoSoValue data cited by 24/7 Wall St., with every day in that stretch posting outflows except October 13, which drew $24.8 million.

The redemptions imply fund managers are selling ETH to meet investor withdrawals, and 24/7 Wall St. reported that several weeks of steady inflows would likely be needed to underpin a $3,000 push. Although the required 24% gain keeps the target mathematically within reach, the direction of flows argues otherwise for now, the outlet said.

Ether has delivered rallies of this size before. From an April 2025 close of $1,794, the token climbed to $3,698 by July 2025, a 106% rise in three months, but that advance was powered by strong buying momentum that the current ETF outflow data shows is absent, according to 24/7 Wall St.

Bitcoin's Lead and the Hoodi Test

Over the 60 days to October 17, ETH and Bitcoin posted nearly identical returns, up 26.3% and 26.1% respectively. The past month diverged, however: Bitcoin gained 6.8% while ETH slipped 1.1%, a split that suggests Ether is lagging even in a steadier market, 24/7 Wall St. reported.

Bitcoin traded at $81,977 as of October 18. Further gains in the largest cryptocurrency could pull ETH higher and put the $3,000 objective back within reach, according to the outlet.

Developers are set to trial bigger blocks on the Hoodi testnet on October 26. The sandbox lets developers experiment without risking user funds, but such milestones rarely move the ethereum price today or draw sustained investor interest, 24/7 Wall St. reported.

Levels to Watch Into Year-End

The markers 24/7 Wall St. identified include a daily finish above $2,807 before November ends, backed by positive weekly ETF inflows. Without those developments, the outlet reported, the $3,000 target will likely stay out of reach in 2026.

On the downside, the $2,313 intraday low from October 15 is the line bulls need to defend, with the $2,220 August low below it. Whether ETH can mount a serious recovery by year-end depends on this narrow set of conditions falling into place, according to 24/7 Wall St.

Conclusion

Ether entered the October 19 session near $2,417, about 24% below $3,000, after a two-week slide and $955 million in October ETF outflows through October 16. The recovery case rests on holding the $2,313 low, a turn to sustained ETF inflows and a decisive break above $2,807, with a daily close above that level by end-November cited as the key confirmation. Absent those signals, 24/7 Wall St. reported, the $3,000 target likely waits until 2027.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the ethereum price today, October 19, 2026?

Ether stood near $2,417 as of October 18, 2026, according to 24/7 Wall St. That is down 18.5% from the 2025 closing price of $2,967 and leaves the token about 24% below the $3,000 level it last traded above in January.

How much does ETH need to rise to reach $3,000?

From $2,417, ETH needs a gain of about 24.1%, or roughly $583 per coin. The first hurdle is the $2,807 intraday high from September 21; clearing it would still leave another 6.9% to the $3,000 target.

How much have Ether ETFs lost to outflows in October 2026?

Ether ETFs recorded $955 million in net outflows between October 1 and October 16, according to SoSoValue data cited by 24/7 Wall St. The single exception in that stretch was October 13, when the funds drew $24.8 million in inflows.

What conditions does ETH need to reclaim $3,000 in 2026?

24/7 Wall St. listed three: ETH must hold above the $2,313 October 15 low, Ether ETFs must shift from outflows to steady inflows, and the price must break above the $2,807 September high and stay there. A daily close above $2,807 by end-November with positive weekly inflows is the key signal.

What happens if ETH falls below $2,313?

A close below $2,313 could push ETH toward the $2,220 low recorded on August 20, according to 24/7 Wall St. Such a move would likely delay any $3,000 attempt until 2027.

Sources

Best Crypto to Buy Now: Five Cryptocurrencies Worth Watching in 2026

Best Crypto to Buy Now: Five Cryptocurrencies Worth Watching in 2026

by | Oct 19, 2026 | Adoption

Investors searching for the best crypto to buy now face a market with thousands of digital assets, but a small group of established names continues to dominate attention in 2026. Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, XRP and BNB are among the most recognised and widely held cryptocurrencies, each occupying a distinct role within the broader ecosystem, according to VT Markets.

What began as a niche technology has matured into an acknowledged digital asset class, underpinned by exchanges, payment platforms and rising institutional participation, VT Markets said. Bitcoin remains the dominant reference point for the sector, while the other four assets have each built their own position through specific strengths, from smart contract platforms to cross-border payments.

How cryptocurrency works

A cryptocurrency is a digital asset protected by cryptography and tracked through blockchain technology. Rather than being issued by central banks like conventional money, these assets run on decentralised networks of computers that independently verify and log transactions without any single institution in control, according to VT Markets.

A blockchain functions as a shared digital ledger, storing transactions transparently and permanently without requiring a central authority. That design lets participants send value to one another across the network, with ownership and transaction history preserved in a record that resists tampering.

The design also places responsibility on the holder. Each user must protect their own holdings, and once a transaction is confirmed on the blockchain it generally cannot be reversed, VT Markets noted.

Bitcoin and Ethereum lead the best crypto to buy now list

Measured by market capitalisation, liquidity and adoption, Bitcoin and Ethereum still stand as the two biggest and most established cryptocurrencies, according to VT Markets. Bitcoin, introduced in 2009 as a peer-to-peer alternative to traditional money, relies on proof-of-work and a hard cap of 21 million coins, a design that has shaped its reputation as digital gold rather than an everyday payments tool.

That limited supply keeps drawing individuals, companies and institutions seeking a long-term store of value. Bitcoin holds the largest market capitalisation and deepest liquidity of any cryptocurrency, and institutional adoption has grown through custody services and exchange-traded products, VT Markets said.

Ethereum brought smart contracts to the market, code that executes automatically and allows developers to build applications on the network itself, making it a platform rather than simply a currency. From that foundation emerged decentralised finance, NFT marketplaces and thousands of tokens created on top of its infrastructure.

Since moving to proof-of-stake in 2022, Ethereum has focused on scaling solutions that lower fees, and it remains one of the most widely used platforms for blockchain development. It holds the largest developer ecosystem and share of decentralised application activity, while ongoing protocol upgrades aim to improve scalability and reduce transaction costs, according to VT Markets.

Solana, XRP and BNB fill specialist roles

Solana was designed to tackle the congestion that has left Ethereum slow and costly at peak times, processing a high volume of transactions per second while keeping fees low. Those characteristics have drawn gaming, NFT and high-frequency decentralised exchange activity to the network, though its history of outages is worth weighing against those advantages, VT Markets said.

XRP was built to address one problem in conventional banking: moving money across borders is slow and expensive. Its network settles transactions within seconds for a fraction of what correspondent banking costs, and Ripple, the company behind it, has spent years cultivating ties with financial institutions exploring this use case.

A long-running legal battle with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission once created uncertainty around XRP. The resolution of that multi-year proceeding has provided greater regulatory clarity and influenced investor sentiment around the asset, according to VT Markets.

BNB began life as a token that gave holders reduced trading fees on Binance, one of the world's largest exchanges, before evolving into the native asset of its own blockchain, BNB Chain. Binance periodically burns a portion of BNB's supply to support its value over time, though the asset's performance remains closely tied to the wider Binance ecosystem, VT Markets said.

Risks and portfolio approach for the best crypto to buy now

The asset class is still highly volatile, and prices can swing on market sentiment, regulation, technological developments and broader economic conditions. Even the largest cryptocurrencies trade with less market depth than major equities, so news or shifts in sentiment tend to move prices faster and further, according to VT Markets.

Given that volatility, VT Markets said these coins generally work better as one component of a wider allocation than as a single concentrated position. Spreading exposure across several assets, guided by research, tends to be more resilient than betting on one coin, and a structured approach helps manage downside risk while preserving exposure to the sector's upside.

More conservative investors may weight allocations toward core holdings, while those comfortable with higher risk might shift toward growth and speculative names. Either way, keeping a reserve means a portfolio can act on opportunities instead of sitting fully committed at any given moment, VT Markets said.

Common mistakes include buying purely on momentum, neglecting security and ignoring taxes. Assets with the largest short-term gains are not reliably the best performers going forward, weak or reused passwords and disabled two-factor authentication have cost many investors their holdings, and selling, exchanging or spending cryptocurrency can trigger tax liabilities in many jurisdictions, VT Markets said.

Ways to gain exposure

Investors considering the best crypto to buy now can gain exposure in different ways. Some buy and hold digital assets directly, while others use derivatives such as contracts for difference to speculate on price movements without owning the underlying asset, according to VT Markets.

VT Markets provides access to selected cryptocurrency markets through CFDs, supported by trading tools and educational resources. The firm said traders should determine the amount of capital to allocate to each trade and weigh factors such as volatility, leverage and potential losses before opening a position.

For storage, keeping smaller amounts on a reputable exchange is common and convenient. For larger holdings, many investors move funds to a personal wallet for added control over custody, though that comes with the responsibility of securing it, VT Markets said.

Conclusion

Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, XRP and BNB stand out in 2026 as established, widely held assets, each with a distinct role spanning store of value, smart contracts, high-throughput applications, cross-border payments and exchange ecosystems. VT Markets frames these five as the most recognised names for investors weighing the best crypto to buy now, while stressing that volatility, security and tax planning remain central to any allocation. The firm points investors toward a diversified, research-driven approach and notes that exposure can be taken directly or through instruments such as CFDs, with position sizing and risk limits set before any trade.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the five best crypto to buy now in 2026, according to VT Markets?

VT Markets names Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, XRP and BNB as five of the most recognised and widely held cryptocurrencies in 2026. Each occupies a distinct role: Bitcoin as a store of value, Ethereum as a smart contract platform, Solana for high-throughput applications, XRP for cross-border payments and BNB as the native asset of BNB Chain.

Why is Bitcoin still considered digital gold in 2026?

Bitcoin runs on a proof-of-work network with a fixed supply of 21 million coins, a scarcity that has shaped its reputation as digital gold rather than an everyday payments tool. VT Markets says that scarcity continues to attract individuals, companies and institutions seeking a long-term store of value, alongside growing institutional adoption through custody services and exchange-traded products.

How did the SEC case affect XRP?

A long-running legal battle with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission once created uncertainty around XRP. According to VT Markets, the resolution of that multi-year proceeding has provided greater regulatory clarity and influenced investor sentiment around the asset, which targets cross-border payments settling within seconds.

How much of a portfolio should go into cryptocurrency?

There is no fixed answer, since the right allocation depends on individual risk tolerance and financial goals, VT Markets says. Many investors treat cryptocurrency as a smaller slice within a diversified portfolio rather than a core holding, but the firm describes this as a personal decision rather than a rule.

What are the most common mistakes crypto investors make?

VT Markets highlights buying purely on momentum, weak security and ignoring taxes. Assets with the largest short-term gains are not reliably the best performers going forward, weak or reused passwords and disabled two-factor authentication have cost investors their holdings, and selling, exchanging or spending crypto can trigger tax liabilities in many jurisdictions.

Sources

Ethereum Price Sweeps Lows Near $2.3K, Rebounds to $2.4K as Momentum Improves

Ethereum Price Sweeps Lows Near $2.3K, Rebounds to $2.4K as Momentum Improves

by | Oct 17, 2026 | Altcoin News

Ethereum price staged a recovery on Saturday, bouncing back from an intraday low of $2,324 to trade at $2,483, a gain of 3.3%. The rebound followed a low sweep that took out stop-losses below $2,350 and triggered $93.31 million in liquidations over 24 hours, according to CryptoRank.

The move matters because the quick reclaim of lost ground suggests the dip may have been a liquidity sweep rather than genuine selling pressure, though technical indicators paint a mixed picture. Trading volume settled at $14.28 billion as buyers stepped in to defend the $2.4K area.

Ethereum Price Action and Key Levels

The largest altcoin dipped as low as $2,324 during the session before recovering, with the price now back above the $2,440 area. CryptoRank reported that a former resistance zone now acts as support, while an ascending trendline continues to prop up the price from underneath, and a possible bullish divergence is forming on the charts.

Key levels to watch include resistance near $2,500 and support around $2,300. If momentum carries the Ethereum price toward the $2,500 resistance, a break higher could trigger a golden cross formation and potentially send the asset above $2,584, according to CryptoRank's analysis.

On the downside, if bears enter the market, immediate support might be found around $2,300. A deeper correction could produce a death cross and drive the price lower, CryptoRank reported.

Momentum Indicators Show Mixed Signals

The four-hour chart shows the Moving Average Convergence Divergence line crossing above the signal line, indicating that short-term buying momentum is accelerating. However, both lines remain below the zero line, which signals a bullish momentum shift within a larger downtrend, according to CryptoRank.

Market participants treat this setup as a preliminary indication to get ready for a potential buy signal, holding off until the lines move above the zero line to verify an uptrend. The daily Relative Strength Index reading at 50.64 suggests a neutral, balanced market with no strong directional bias, with buyers and sellers in equal strength at the 50 mark.

The asset sits between the extreme thresholds, with above 70 considered overbought and below 30 oversold. A push past 55 would indicate that bullish momentum is gaining control, whereas a decline under 45 points to mounting bearish pressure, according to CryptoRank. The Ethereum price appears to be consolidating or waiting for a catalyst.

Demand Zone and Channel Structure

On the daily timeframe, Ethereum continues to trade within an ascending channel that has guided its recovery from June lows near $1.5K, CryptoPotato reported. A strong rally in August lifted ETH from around $1.9K up to $2.5K, and the advance later extended into the $2.8K supply zone in late September, where sellers defended that region.

The pullback has since dragged ETH down to the marked $2.4K demand zone, an area that coincides with the channel's ascending lower boundary. Prices briefly dipped beneath the zone toward roughly $2.3K before buyers intervened, and recent daily candles reflect a modest rebound back above $2.4K, according to CryptoPotato.

If buyers continue to defend this support, ETH could attempt another move toward the channel midpoint near $2.8K, bringing the $2.8K to $3K supply zone back into focus. On the other hand, a firm daily close beneath $2.3K would constitute a breakdown from both the demand zone and the channel itself, with the next major support at the $1.9K order block, CryptoPotato reported.

Four-Hour Structure and Liquidity Sweep

The four-hour chart shows Ethereum trading within a broadening ascending structure since late August. Once the price tagged the structure's upper edge near $2.8K in September, momentum faded and ETH moved sideways in a range of roughly $2.6K to $2.8K before breaking down in early October, according to CryptoPotato.

The decline produced a series of lower highs, and the mid-October rebound stalled around $2.5K. The latest sell-off pushed ETH below the wedge's lower trendline and through the $2.4K demand zone, briefly reaching the $2.3K area, but the price quickly recovered back above both the zone and the trendline, suggesting the move may have been a liquidity sweep rather than a confirmed breakdown, CryptoPotato reported.

Holding above $2.4K would support the stabilization attempt and could open the way toward the $2.6K rebound high. Clearing that barrier would interrupt the sequence of lower highs and potentially bring the $2.7K region back into play. On the downside, a renewed loss of the trendline and a four-hour close beneath $2.3K would invalidate the recent recovery, according to CryptoPotato.

US Demand Remains Weak

The Coinbase Premium Index, which measures the percentage difference between the ETH price on Coinbase Pro and Binance, has dropped to its deepest negative reading in months, suggesting US-based demand remains weak despite the latest bounce, CryptoPotato reported. Positive readings indicate stronger buying pressure from US-based participants, while negative readings suggest relatively weaker demand.

The premium remained largely positive between August and October 2025, when ETH traded above $4K, then turned persistently negative from November 2025 onward. The index briefly returned to slightly positive territory in late August and early September during the rally toward $2.8K, but readings have since moved back into negative territory and recently fell to approximately -0.1, the lowest level since the summer, according to CryptoPotato.

A sustained negative premium indicates that US spot buyers are not currently leading the market, though this does not necessarily mean the recent bounce will fail, as price can recover through offshore demand or derivatives activity. If the premium remains weak while ETH struggles to reclaim $2.6K, the $2.4K support zone could come under pressure again, whereas a recovery back toward zero would strengthen the case for a durable base, CryptoPotato reported.

Conclusion

Ethereum price has recovered from a low sweep to $2,324 to trade near $2,483, with technical indicators showing improving short-term momentum but an uncertain broader direction. The market sits at a short-term inflection point, with the reaction around $2.4K likely to shape the next move. Traders are watching whether ETH can hold above $2.4K and reclaim $2.6K, or whether a close below $2.3K would expose the asset to further selling pressure toward $1.9K.

Frequently Asked Questions

What caused Ethereum's price to drop to $2,324?

Ethereum dipped to $2,324 during a low sweep that took out stop-losses sitting below $2,350, triggering $93.31 million in liquidations over 24 hours, according to CryptoRank. The price quickly recovered to $2,483, suggesting the move may have been a liquidity sweep rather than confirmed selling pressure.

What are the key support and resistance levels for Ethereum price?

Key resistance sits near $2,500, with a break higher potentially targeting $2,584 and beyond. Immediate support is around $2,300, and a decisive close below that level could expose Ethereum to further declines toward the $1.9K order block, according to CryptoRank and CryptoPotato.

What does the MACD indicator show for Ethereum?

The four-hour MACD line has crossed above the signal line, indicating accelerating short-term buying momentum. However, both lines remain below the zero line, signaling a bullish shift within a larger downtrend. Traders view this as an early buy signal, waiting for a cross above zero to confirm an uptrend, according to CryptoRank.

Why is the Coinbase Premium Index important for Ethereum?

The index measures the price difference between Coinbase Pro and Binance, indicating US-based demand. It recently fell to approximately -0.1, the lowest since summer, suggesting weak US spot buying. A sustained negative premium means US buyers are not leading the market, though price can still recover through offshore demand, according to CryptoPotato.

What happens if Ethereum breaks above $2.6K?

Clearing $2.6K would interrupt the sequence of lower highs and potentially bring the $2.7K region back into play, where earlier consolidation broke down. A sustained move higher could target the channel midpoint near $2.8K and bring the $2.8K to $3K supply zone back into focus, according to CryptoPotato.

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