After the turbulent end of 2025, the cryptocurrency market entered a strong rally in the first week of 2026 that added approximately $200 billion to the asset group’s total capitalization in less than six days.
Considering the strong upswing and the downturn that preceded it, Finbold decided to recruit the help of ChatGPT’s advanced artificial intelligence (AI) to try to determine which cryptocurrencies investors can use to turn $100 into $1,000 already in January.
Solana (SOL)
Arguably being the first cryptocurrency to truly end the last ‘crypto winter,’ Solana (SOL) holds a somewhat special place in the current market cycle that has led ChatGPT to describe it as a ‘high-beta altcoin play.’
Indeed, the AI determined that SOL’s past performance, paired with factors like ecosystem growth, technical improvements, investor sentiment, and institutional interest via a spot ETF, Solana holds the potential to spike in value in January.
Furthermore, examining the token’s performance since the New Year, it appears that it just might have the momentum to increase its value tenfold before the end of the month. Specifically, SOL is up 9.77% so far in 2026 and is changing hands at $137.65.
Elsewhere, it is important to note that, despite recommending it, ChatGPT does not believe it is particularly likely that SOL will rise above $1,000 this month. Instead, it estimates that Solana could rally to approximately $300 in January and to around $800 in 2026.
XRP
Much like with Solana, ChatGPT was impressed by the momentum XRP has gained since the start of 2026. So far, the token is substantially outperforming most other major cryptocurrencies and has already risen 25.22% to its press time price of $2.34.
Citing bullish factors such as predictable liquidity, institutional optimism expressed in high price targets, and strength compared to pivotal assets like Bitcoin (BTC), the AI opined that XRP is a very strong buy in January.
Still, much like with Solana, ChatGPT believes that a tenfold increase in value is unlikely before the end of the month. Instead, the AI estimated XRP could rise to $5 in January and to approximately $8 in 2026.
Lastly, as the large language model (LLM) also pointed out, it anchored its forecasts in what it considers a plausible best-case scenario, but left room for disappointment and unexpected outsized gains beyond the prediction in equal measure.
Featured image via Shutterstock
