3 Cryptocurrencies That Could Stage a Comeback by the End of 2026

Ethereum (CRYPTO: ETH), Solana (CRYPTO: SOL), and Chainlink (CRYPTO: LINK) are trading well below their record highs, but each has distinct reasons a crypto comeback could happen by the end of 2026. Ethereum boasts the largest fund base, Solana has an upcoming network upgrade, and Chainlink is gaining institutional access.

All three have declined after a market-wide slump. So which one has the best chance of a comeback by year-end?

Ethereum’s $15.2 Billion Fund Base Is the Largest of the Three

Ethereum is currently trading at $2,371, 52.1% below its all-time high of $4,946. This drop is more significant than Bitcoin’s but less so than Solana’s and Chainlink’s. The decline leaves room for Ethereum to recover if market sentiment shifts, though that is not guaranteed.

Ethereum also has substantial investment. U.S. funds holding Ether, which allow investors to buy exposure through standard brokerage accounts, total about $15.2 billion, according to SoSoValue. This is the largest fund base among the three cryptocurrencies, giving Ethereum a deeper pool of mainstream buyers who might invest more if the market rebounds. A few weeks of net buying—where inflows exceed outflows—would indicate a potential comeback.

The primary risk for Ethereum involves its largest corporate holder, which keeps Ether as a treasury asset and is close to reaching a stated limit of 5% of its supply. This limit indicates where the company will stop purchasing more Ether. As a reliable source of demand in 2026, hitting that ceiling could eliminate a steady buyer just when the price needs support.

Solana’s October 21 Upgrade Is the Only Dated Catalyst

Solana is currently priced at $103, which is 64.9% below its all-time high of $293. However, Solana stands out because a major network upgrade scheduled for October 21 aims to reduce transaction finality to about 150 milliseconds.

Transaction finality is when a transaction becomes permanent and cannot be reversed. Faster finality could boost Solana’s appeal for payment and trading applications that require near-instant settlement, giving holders a specific date to track.

U.S. funds holding Solana total about $1.66 billion, according to SoSoValue. Net inflows after the network upgrade could signal renewed interest in Solana. The main risk, however, is that these funds reported outflows in nine of ten October sessions, meaning the upgrade coincided with mostly selling activity among investors. Additionally, network upgrades can sometimes be delayed, which could exacerbate selling pressure.

Chainlink Is the Only One of the Three Up Over 30 Days

Chainlink’s network provides outside data, such as asset prices, to blockchain applications. Currently, LINK trades at $12, up 7.0% over the past 30 days, making it the only one of the three to grow in that period.

Institutional access is also improving for Chainlink. CME Group (NASDAQ: CME | CME Price Prediction) has included Chainlink in its single-asset crypto futures suite, alongside Solana and other major cryptocurrencies. Futures contracts allow institutions to take a position on price movements without directly holding the asset. Furthermore, LINK saw inflows on October 10, and continued inflows would indicate sustained interest.

The project is also reportedly working on tokenization initiatives with SWIFT, the global banking messaging network, and Infosys (NYSE: INFY). Tokenization refers to representing assets like bonds or fund shares as tokens on a blockchain.

Chainlink’s main risk is that it is trading 77.1% below its all-time high of $53, the steepest decline among the three. Moreover, its partnerships are still in the announcement phase and haven’t translated into revenue. For those interested in speculative positions like this, a free guide on proper sizing can help ensure that one bad investment does not undermine an entire portfolio.

Which Coin Is Most Likely to Lead a Crypto Comeback by Year-End?

Among the three, Ethereum has the best chance of a comeback because its $15.2 billion fund base gives it the largest pool of potential buyers if market sentiment shifts. Chainlink remains the most speculative option, with the largest drawdown at 77.1% and future potential relying heavily on partnerships that are not yet revenue-generating.

Solana sits in the middle, with its near-term future hinging on the upcoming upgrade. If its fund flows remain negative after the October 21 upgrade, Solana’s prospects for a comeback could weaken heading into the end of 2026.

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