Which Cryptocurrency to Invest in for Long Term 2026? Ethereum (ETH) and MUTM Are the Crypto Experts Choice

Long-term crypto investing in 2026 is splitting into two clear approaches. Some investors want exposure to a proven network with deep liquidity and years of adoption behind it. Others are looking for a new cryptocurrency that is still early enough to reprice sharply as its product rollout progresses and market access expands. This is why crypto experts often mention Ethereum (ETH) and Mutuum Finance (MUTM) in the same conversation: one represents established infrastructure, while the other represents early-stage upside tied to utility and launch timing.

Ethereum 2026 outlook for long-term investors

Ethereum remains a core benchmark for the broader market because so much DeFi activity, stablecoin liquidity, and on-chain development still runs through its ecosystem. On January 6, 2026, ETH is trading around the $3.2K area, holding a relatively stable range while traders watch key levels on the chart. In the short term, the market has been focusing on whether ETH can keep support near the low-$3K zone and build enough momentum to challenge higher resistance areas.

From an investor standpoint, ETH is often treated as a “base layer” holding: it can benefit from market uptrends, but it typically moves in a more measured way compared to smaller assets. That is the tradeoff with large caps. A strong year can still deliver meaningful returns, but turning a position into a multi-x win quickly is harder when the market cap is already substantial and the asset is widely held. This is one reason long-term investors keep ETH in the portfolio while also looking at what crypto to buy now on the early-stage side, where pricing has not fully adjusted to future catalysts.

MUTM presale pricing and limited supply

Mutuum Finance is being watched because it is still in presale, which keeps the price fixed rather than shaped by minute-to-minute trading. MUTM is currently in presale Phase 7 at $0.04, while the confirmed launch price is $0.06. That creates a clear discount window for participants who enter before public trading begins.

Presale participation has also been strong. Mutuum Finance has raised over $19.6M and has more than 18,700 holders. On the supply side, the project has a 4B total supply, with 1.82B tokens allocated to the presale. Over 820M tokens have already been sold, meaning nearly half of the presale allocation is already taken. That matters for investors because it narrows the remaining amount available at presale-tier pricing as the phases continue.

MUTM has also shown steady price progression inside the presale structure. Phase 1 started at $0.01 and the token is now $0.04, which is a 300% increase before exchange trading even starts. Even at the current phase, the pricing still sits below the confirmed launch level, which is why MUTM is often framed as a best crypto to invest in candidate for investors focused on early entry.

What Mutuum Finance is building

Mutuum Finance is a DeFi crypto project developing a non-custodial lending and borrowing protocol. The goal is straightforward: lenders supply assets to earn yield, while borrowers use collateral to access liquidity without selling their holdings. This type of product tends to attract attention in stronger market periods because users look for practical ways to generate passive income, manage liquidity, and stay exposed to upside in core assets.

The project is also moving through a visible development pipeline rather than relying only on presale marketing. The team has indicated that V1 is approaching on the Sepolia testnet, and users are expected to be able to test the protocol’s main functions before a full live rollout. The team has also confirmed the Halborn audit has been fully completed, adding a major security milestone alongside the earlier CertiK audit with a high score.

For V1, the planned core building blocks include the Liquidity Pool, mtToken, Debt Token, and Liquidator Bot, with ETH and USDT as the initial assets for lending, borrowing, and collateral. This testnet step is important because it shifts the project from presale-only progress to a stage where users can interact with real mechanics.

Roadmap progress

A key point that analysts keep coming back to is Mutuum Finance’s roadmap execution pace. Phase 1 is described as fully completed, Phase 2 is mostly completed with two tasks remaining, and Phase 3 work is already ongoing.

The roadmap also indicates that the full platform launch is planned to align with the token launch in Phase 4. That structure can influence how the market values the token early, because it enters public trading with direct utility behind it. Instead of trading as a standalone listing, the token is introduced alongside a product that users can engage with, which can increase early participation and attention.

Some analysts discuss a post-launch scenario where MUTM moves to $0.25 shortly after listing. From the current $0.04 price, $0.25 represents a 525% increase. The same analysts often connect stronger price action to expanded market access, since tokens that launch with working utility can be better positioned for listings across both Top tier CEX and DEX venues, which typically increases visibility and buyer flow.

Longer-term expansion targets

Beyond the initial rollout, Mutuum Finance is also associated with future development that can expand token utility over time. The project has described work around an overcollateralized stablecoin, Layer 2 efficiency, and multi-chain expansion. These are the kinds of upgrades investors usually track because they can broaden the user base and increase protocol activity.

In longer-term discussions, some market participants frame $1 as a major psychological milestone. From $0.04 to $1.00, the gain would be 2,400%. That type of move depends on delivery, adoption, liquidity growth, and how much attention the protocol captures once it is live, but it illustrates why early-stage tokens are often paired with large caps like ETH in “long-term 2026” conversations.

Mutuum Finance is also running community incentives alongside development. The project has promoted a $100,000 giveaway, with participants eligible for rewards up to $10,000 worth of MUTM. There is also a 24-hour leaderboard concept that refreshes daily, where the top activity can receive an additional $500 worth of MUTM as a bonus.

For onboarding, MUTM purchases are positioned as accessible even for users who are new to DeFi, including an option to buy via card, with step-by-step instructions shared through the project’s official channels.

Ethereum remains a strong long-term choice for 2026 because it sits at the center of on-chain activity and tends to benefit when the broader market expands. At the same time, large caps rarely deliver the kind of rapid multi-x repricing that early-stage tokens can produce.

That is why MUTM is being discussed alongside ETH as a long-term 2026 pick. MUTM is still in presale at $0.04, has raised over $19.6M, has 18,700+ holders, and has a supply structure where nearly half of the presale allocation is already sold. With V1 testing approaching on Sepolia, the Halborn audit completed, and a roadmap that targets a full platform launch alongside the token, MUTM is positioned as a utility-driven project that many investors view as a higher-upside complement to established holdings in 2026.

For more information about Mutuum Finance (MUTM) visit the links below:

Website: https://www.mutuum.com

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/mutuumfinance