📌 TOPINDIATOURS Eksklusif crypto: 3 Mid-cap Privacy Coins Saw Heavy Accumulation b

While leading privacy coins such as Monero (XMR), Zcash (ZEC), and Dash (DASH) have already reached multi-billion-dollar market capitalizations and posted strong gains, capital flows appear to be shifting toward lower-cap privacy coins.

January recorded notable accumulation activity in several mid- to low-cap altcoins. This may reflect whales’ positioning ahead of expectations that the privacy coin narrative will continue to attract capital in 2026.

1. Horizen (ZEN)

Horizen is a privacy layer protocol built on Base, Ethereum’s Layer 2 network.

Horizen aims to deliver privacy while remaining compliant with regulations. The protocol enables institutions, enterprises, and users to conduct transactions and computations on-chain in a confidential, verifiable, and legally compliant manner.

ZEN is currently a mid-cap altcoin with a market capitalization of over $226 million. In January, ZEN rose more than 50%. Despite the rebound, it remains down by more than 90% from its 2021 peak.

ZEN is also part of Grayscale’s investment products through the Grayscale Horizen Trust. CoinGlass data shows that Grayscale has increased its ZEN holdings since late 2024. The firm now holds more than 948,000 ZEN, equivalent to over 5% of the circulating supply.

Grayscale’s continued accumulation, despite ZEN falling more than 70% since the end of 2024, signals long-term conviction from Grayscale investors. Previously, Grayscale’s promotion was one of the key factors driving ZEC’s rally last year.

Some investors believe that following the rallies in Monero (XMR) and Dash (DASH), Horizen (ZEN) could be the next candidate.

“We’ve taken a big position in Horizen (ZEN). This looks primed for an aggressive pump following big gains from XMR and DASH,” The Whale Pod said.

2. Railgun (RAIL)

RAILGUN is an on-chain privacy and security system built directly on blockchains such as Ethereum, BSC, Polygon, and Arbitrum.

Railgun uses zero-knowledge (ZK) cryptography to allow users to transact and interact with DeFi anonymously.

RAIL is the governance token of RAILGUN and currently has a market capitalization of over $165 million. Nansen data shows that over the past 30 days, RAIL balances on exchanges declined by more than 5%. At the same time, balances held by whale wallets increased by over 24%.

A report from Messari, an on-chain analytics platform, stated that in 2025, Railgun processed $2 billion in shielded and unshielded volume. This activity generated $5 million in revenue.

Railgun Quant, a researcher at Messari, noted that at prices below $3, RAIL may be undervalued. The token’s price could potentially double from current levels.

“Even at $3.10, $RAIL is trading at a discount of more than 50% to my RAILGUN valuation model’s base case of $6.26,” Railgun Quant said.

3. Decred (DCR)

Decred (DCR) is a Layer 1 blockchain that uses a hybrid Proof-of-Work (PoW) and Proof-of-Stake (PoS) consensus mechanism. The network also supports privacy-preserving transactions.

DCR currently has a market capitalization of over $479 million. Accumulation trends are evident in the rising share of supply staked since Q4 2025.

Decred data shows that more than 10 million DCR are now staked. This represents over 62% of the total supply and marks the highest ratio since March 2025.

Amid growing interest in privacy coins, Decred has entered the top 5 privacy coins by market capitalization on CoinGecko. Analysts expect the price to move beyond the current $27.6 level and potentially reach $60.

“DCR just broke out of accumulation! Inverse head & shoulders confirmed. That shifts the market into markup mode!” analyst AltCryptoTalk predicted.

Experts continue to rate the privacy coin narrative highly for 2026. Large-cap privacy coins with multi-billion-dollar valuations may face pressure to profit-take. Low-cap altcoins carry higher liquidity risks. Mid-cap privacy coins may strike a balance between the t…

Konten dipersingkat otomatis.

🔗 Sumber: www.beincrypto.com

📌 TOPINDIATOURS Hot crypto: PENGU Price Misses the Signal in Pudgy Penguins’ Manch

Pudgy Penguins announced a landmark partnership with Premier League football giant Manchester City.

This marks one of the most high-profile crossovers yet between a native Web3 brand and global sports fandom.

Pudgy Penguins’ Manchester City Deal Signals a New NFT Playbook

The collaboration will launch an exclusive NFT collection alongside premium merchandise, expanding Pudgy Penguins’ reach far beyond the traditional crypto audience.

“We’re excited to announce that we will be collaborating with Man City on a premium collectible and merch release to bring Pengu to the millions of Man City fans around the world,” wrote Pudgy Penguins in a post.

The team added that the partnership is designed to work both ways. This means bringing PENGU to their fans globally, while also introducing Man City to the wider Pudgy Penguins audience.

The NFT collection and merchandise drop is scheduled for January 17, 2026, and will be targeted at an 18+ audience.

With Pudgy Penguins citing “high-end collectible and merch drop,” it signals emphasis on premium positioning rather than mass-market NFTs. This strategy mirrors recent shifts across the sector toward quality, brand recognition, and real-world cultural relevance.

It is worth noting what this partnership means for Pudgy Penguins, as it represents a significant strategic expansion. Manchester City boasts one of the largest and most commercially engaged global fanbases in football.

This offers Pudgy Penguins access to millions of potential customers already accustomed to spending on licensed merchandise and collectibles tied to their favorite club.

By aligning with a top-tier sports brand, Pudgy Penguins continues its push to position PENGU as a mainstream intellectual property rather than a purely crypto-native character.

Why Pudgy Penguins Is Betting on Culture, Not Short-Term Price

The move also highlights how established sports organizations are increasingly experimenting with digital collectibles after earlier NFT cycles faltered.

Rather than launching speculative standalone NFTs, collaborations like this focus on brand storytelling, physical merchandise, and fandom. Notably, these are areas where football clubs already excel.

Despite the headline-grabbing announcement, the PENGU token showed no immediate or notable price reaction.

The PENGU price is down by almost 5% over the last 24 hours and was trading at $0.01222 as of this writing.

This partnership appears to be more of a long-term brand play than a short-term trading catalyst. Still, sentiment around the token remains broadly optimistic.

Tazman, another popular user on X, pointed to broader ecosystem momentum, indicating that the PENGU price could still see further upside in 2026.  

“…just look at how $PENGU is ripping in 2026, up 60% since 2025!!!! Be confident about 2026, the penguins will make themselves known loud and clear,” wrote Tazman.

Tazman noted that many major projects, including OKX and Crypto.com, are already referencing penguins in their posts.

While price action remains muted for now, the Pudgy Penguins–Manchester City partnership mirrors a broader trend. Successful Web3 brands are increasingly competing on cultural relevance and global reach.

This is in contrast to focusing solely on on-chain metrics, and narrowly resembles what BitMine has just done.

If executed well, the January 17 launch could become a blueprint for how NFTs intersect with mainstream sports fandom in the next phase of crypto adoption.

The post PENGU Price Misses the Signal in Pudgy Penguins’ Manchester City Deal appeared first on BeInCrypto.

🔗 Sumber: www.beincrypto.com