"Alt Season Coming in Second Half"…3 Key Coins Experts Are Watching

▲ XRP (XRP, Ripple), Solana (SOL), Chainlink (LINK) / ChatGPT generated image ©

Solana, XRP, and Chainlink are once again drawing attention as assets that could yield significant returns even with small investments if the altcoin season fully kicks off in the second half of 2026.

According to cryptocurrency media outlet Finbold on May 6 (local time), strong capital inflows into the US Bitcoin (BTC) spot ETF are increasing the likelihood of market liquidity gradually spreading to risk assets. The media also reported that progress on the US cryptocurrency market structure bill, the CLARITY Act, is easing regulatory uncertainty across the altcoin market.

Solana (SOL), identified by the media as the first promising asset, is rapidly expanding its real-world use cases based on increased stablecoin transfers and decentralized exchange (DEX) activity. Monthly trading volume is approaching past annual levels, and Western Union's announcement of plans to launch a Solana-based stablecoin indicates growing adoption by traditional financial institutions. The Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) recently introduced SOL futures and options products. Solana is currently trading at approximately $89, remaining more than 70% below its all-time high in January 2025.

XRP (XRP, Ripple) was assessed to have had its investment thesis significantly reshaped with the conclusion of its long-term legal dispute with US regulators in 2025. The media reported that Ripple can now pursue business expansion without regulatory uncertainty, and has since acquired a blockchain worth $2.5 billion and raised $500 million based on a $40 billion valuation. XRP currently maintains its role as a core asset in Ripple's international remittance network, trading at approximately $1.45 at the time of writing, having risen by over 3% in the last 24 hours.

Chainlink (LINK) is emerging as a key infrastructure in real-world asset tokenization and decentralized artificial intelligence (AI) sectors. Chainlink's Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP) processes over $1.3 billion in weekly transaction volume, and Grayscale expanded institutional accessibility by launching LINK trust products by the end of 2025. On-chain data also captured large-scale accumulation movements, with approximately 1 million LINK being withdrawn from exchanges in a single day in April 2026. The current LINK price is around $10, approximately 82% below its all-time high of $52.

The media assessed that these three assets each have the potential to benefit from the next altcoin cycle in different ways. While volatility remains high, the analysis suggests that lower prices, strengthened fundamentals, and clear growth drivers could combine to show high upside potential in the market in the second half of 2026.

*Disclaimer: This article is for investment reference only and is not responsible for any investment losses based on it. The content should be interpreted for informational purposes only.*