Ethereum’s recent rally back above $3,100 to start 2026 was driven by Vitalik Buterin’s upgrade roadmap. The Ethereum CEO updated the community with bold promises for the coming year, which investors appear to be embracing.

However, the world’s second-largest crypto by market cap has a long road ahead just to recapture its all-time high near $5,000. For investors hunting the best crypto to buy for 2026, Ethereum’s blue-chip status looks less attractive compared to crypto presale projects.

Crypto startups boast much smaller valuations and offer investors the type of opportunity Ethereum provided during its ICO in mid-2014. Digitap ($TAP), the maker of the world’s first “omni-bank,” is one example positioning itself as the “real utility king” that could outshine even $3,100 ETH in real-world use and upside potential.

Source: Digitap

Digitap’s Omni-Bank App Blends Fiat, Crypto, And Cards

Digitap is the world’s first “omni-bank” that unifies fiat banking services with crypto in a single app. It offers multi-currency fiat accounts, global money transfers, savings accounts, and crypto wallets for more than 100 of the largest cryptocurrencies. The platform also offers a Visa-powered debit card that lets users spend crypto like cash.

Notably, the platform is open to users worldwide with an optional no-KYC signup process. There are more than 1.4 billion adults worldwide who are underbanked and live in countries where access to identification is impossible.

These users can still gain access to a no-KYC Visa-linked card and basic platform features. This helps unbanked or privacy-focused users bypass traditional banking barriers and join the global financial system.

This real-world utility makes Digitap a top altcoin to buy, as the fintech banking app is built directly for consumers. It solves the fragmented-app problem by blending fiat bank accounts, crypto wallets, and a payment card into a single product.

Source: Digitap

Why Buybacks And Burns Tie Digitap’s Token To Platform Profit

Digitap’s crypto presale of its native $TAP kicked off during the summer of 2025 at the peak of the bull market. Encouragingly, the tiered structure of the presale attracted a wave of investors seeking a hedge against the broader market selloff.

$TAP was initially offered for sale at $0.0125 and has gradually risen to $0.0411 as each round is completed or sold out. Even a 5% portfolio allocation to $TAP helped offset much larger losses, as the token generated a paper gain of more than 200%.

While Digitap proved to be a top crypto to buy as a near-term hedge, its tokenomics are designed for long-term price appreciation. Half of the platform’s profits will be allocated toward buyback and burn initiatives. Digitap’s near-term plan includes a global marketing campaign, so as the business scales, the fixed 2 billion $TAP supply will begin to shrink.

Digitap’s team recently confirmed the token will graduate from its presale and trade on crypto exchanges. While the exact timing has yet to be confirmed, the team also disclosed an expected listing price of $0.14. This suggests there is still significant upside potential from the current price.

Why A Return To $5,000 ETH May Still Take Several Years

Ethereum’s recently introduced 2026 roadmap includes several upgrades aimed at making the network faster and more secure. The mid-2026 Glamsterdam hard fork, for example, is designed to introduce new technologies to raise the base layer’s capacity toward 10,000 transactions per second.

Equally important is Ethereum’s continued focus on privacy. The late-2026 Hegota upgrade is expected to add new layers of protection to secure user data and bolster censorship resistance across the network.

These developments have given investors confidence that Ethereum remains a solid altcoin to buy in 2026. The roadmap is designed to advance the network’s technical vision and could push Ethereum back toward $3,500 in the near term. However, Ethereum’s annual growth rate of 28.8% suggests that a return to its all-time high could still take years.

Source: @Manofbitcoin

Digitap’s Banking Model Supports Its Case As Best Crypto To Buy 2026

For investors, translating technical upgrades into everyday utility for mainstream users remains a challenge that Ethereum is not focused on solving. While the roadmap signals long-term progress, the platform remains developer-centric. In contrast, newer platforms that emphasize integrated financial experiences are addressing pain points that Ethereum cannot or will not solve.

By focusing on real-world use cases, including making crypto spendable via a Visa card and enabling truly borderless banking, Digitap offers a different form of utility. Digitap is building a strong case to rank among the best altcoins to buy for investors looking toward the future.

Digitap’s crypto presale continues to show strong momentum that could carry over into an exchange listing. Meanwhile, its tokenomics are aligned with long-term growth, and its product addresses real-world problems that few competitors tackle.

Discover the future of crypto cards with Digitap by checking out their live Visa card project here:

Presale: https://presale.digitap.app  

Website: https://digitap.app 

Social: https://linktr.ee/digitap.app

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