Five Altcoins Under $1 Gain Momentum Ahead of Anticipated Alt Season

The cryptocurrency market continues to show growing interest in altcoins priced under $1, with several projects gaining traction ahead of the so-called "alt season." Analysts and traders are increasingly spotlighting five promising altcoins that are positioned for growth due to technological advancements, regulatory readiness, and real-world adoption. These coins include Cardano (ADA), Hedera (HBAR), Stellar (XLM), Pudgy Penguins (PENGU), and Ethena Labs (ENA).

Cardano is currently valued at 71 cents with a market capitalization of $25.8 billion. The platform recently launched the Midnight Glacier Airdrop, offering eligible wallets $NIGHT tokens within a 60-day window that ends on October 5. Additionally, Cardano’s governance system has taken a significant step forward with the first successful vote to allocate $71 million in ADA to support a 12-month development roadmap. This marks a key development for IOHK, the company behind Cardano, as it continues to build on its position in the top 100 cryptocurrencies [1].

Hedera (HBAR) is making waves with its hashgraph technology, which allows for faster and cheaper transactions compared to traditional blockchains. Priced at 25 cents with a market cap of $10.4 billion, HBAR benefits from partnerships with major global firms such as Google, IBM, and NVIDIA. The platform’s energy efficiency and fixed transaction costs of 1/100 of a cent make it attractive for businesses looking for scalable and predictable solutions [1].

Stellar (XLM) remains a strong contender, trading at 39 cents with a $12.2 billion market cap. The project is gaining recognition for its adherence to regulatory standards, including ISO 20022 compliance, which positions it well for integration into global payment systems. Collaborations with PayPal and MoneyGram have already facilitated over $1.5 billion in cross-border remittances in Q1 2025. However, concerns remain regarding the low circulation of XLM tokens, with only 31 billion out of 50 billion in circulation, raising questions about decentralization [1].

Pudgy Penguins (PENGU) has emerged as a unique blend of meme culture and Web3 innovation. The project has seen significant growth, with a 118% increase in the token price over the last 30 days, reaching 33 cents. Pudgy Penguins has extended its brand beyond digital with physical toy sales at major retailers and partnerships with global brands like Nascar and Lufthansa. A recent SEC-recognized fund filing by Canary Capital has further fueled interest and price momentum [1].

Ethena Labs (ENA) has quickly become a key player in the stablecoin and DeFi space, launching the $USDtb stablecoin shortly after the Genius Act. Priced at 58 cents with a $3.8 billion market cap, ENA has seen explosive growth, including a recent acquisition of over 1 billion tokens by whale investors. The Ethena Protocol is now among the top three stablecoins by market cap, following $USDT and $USDC. The platform's integration with leading DeFi protocols like Aave and Uniswap, combined with a 50% rise in TVL in one month, highlights its growing influence in the crypto ecosystem [1].

These altcoins are being closely watched by investors and analysts as potential breakout candidates. Their development trajectories, partnerships, and adoption trends suggest they are well-positioned to benefit from the anticipated rise in altcoin demand. While the market remains speculative, the fundamentals of these projects indicate that they are more than just short-term hype, offering real innovation and use cases that could drive long-term value.

Source: [1] Top 5 Altcoins Under $1 – Best Crypto To Buy Now! (https://coinmarketcap.com/community/articles/68a8119ccffd566c7288e115/)