Crypto Bull Run Pauses, Bitcoin Patterns Suggest 142% Gain Potential

The recent pause in the crypto bull run, as investors began taking profits following significant gains from April lows, has sparked debate about the sustainability of the bullish momentum. This article delves into the potential for further gains in the crypto market and identifies several altcoins that could be strong contenders if the bull run resumes.

Several factors suggest that the crypto market bull run has more room to grow this year. Notably, Bitcoin has formed bullish patterns that could drive further gains in the coming months. The formation of a cup-and-handle pattern, a popular bullish continuation sign, and a bullish pennant, comprising a vertical line and a symmetrical triangle, are key indicators. The cup has a depth of about 30%, suggesting that measuring the same distance from the upper side could bring the price target to $142,080. Such a move would likely trigger additional gains among altcoins.

Among the top altcoins to consider for the next crypto bull run are Chainlink (LINK), Solana (SOL), Pepe Coin (PEPE), and Virtuals Protocol (VIRTUAL). Chainlink stands out due to its strong fundamentals as the largest oracle network in the crypto industry, securing assets worth over $40 billion across multiple chains like Ethereum and Tron. Its Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP) is pivotal in the real-world asset (RWA) tokenization industry, as evidenced by its recent participation in a trial for an RWA transaction between JPMorgan and Ondo Finance. Chainlink's partnerships with major global companies, including ANZ, UBS, and Swift, position it as a key infrastructure provider in the RWA industry.

Solana has emerged as another top altcoin to buy and hold, becoming the most active layer-1 network in terms of transactions and active accounts. Its network processed over 1.75 billion transactions in the last 30 days and has over $101.7 million active addresses. Solana's dominance in the decentralized exchange (DEX) industry, where its protocols have handled billions of dollars in assets, further solidifies its position. Additionally, there are hopes that the SEC will approve spot Solana ETFs, potentially attracting more inflows from Wall Street investors.

Meme coins, known for their popularity and low prices, are expected to perform well in the upcoming crypto bull run. Pepe Coin, in particular, has a strong track record, having survived several market cycles and gaining significant popularity among traders and investors. Its 24-hour volume of $1.7 billion, higher than that of other meme coins like Shiba Inu, Official Trump, and Bonk combined, underscores its potential.

Virtuals Protocol is another altcoin to consider, as it sits at the intersection of the artificial intelligence boom and meme coins. This blockchain network enables developers to launch AI agents, some of which, like GAME, Luna, Ribbita, and VaderAI, have become multi-million-dollar assets. The growth of these AI agents is expected to continue, contributing to the significant price increase of VIRTUAL, which has jumped by over 295% from its April low. Other Solana meme coins, such as Popcat, Dogwifhat, and Fartcoin, are also worth considering for the next crypto bull run.