Best Crypto To Buy Now As “Ice Cold” CPI Print Raises Fed Rate Cut Odds For 2026

The latest US inflation report further bolsters the macroeconomic backdrop for risk assets for 2026, sending smart money investors hunting for the best crypto to buy now. 

The US Bureau of Labour Statistics has published its Consumer Price Index summary for November. 

The annual inflation rose 2.7% year over year in November, coming in well below market expectations of 3.1%. Core CPI, which excludes food and energy prices, increased 2.6% annually, also undershooting forecasts that had pointed to a 3.0% reading.

Core inflation has now cooled to its lowest level of the post-pandemic period, with prices rising just 2.6% over the past year through November. Short-term momentum also suggests further easing, as the three-month annualized CPI measure has slipped to only marginally above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target.

Chief Market Strategist at Futurum Equities Shay Boloor has called the latest CPI print “ice cold”. 

Fed Rate Cut Odds Surge: What Does It Mean For Crypto?

Futures markets continue to signal that the Federal Reserve is likely to hold rates steady in January 2026, according to CME FedWatch data derived from 30-day Fed funds futures pricing. 

That said, expectations further out are shifting. The probability of three rate cuts in 2026 is now nearly on par with the two-cut scenario, reflecting growing confidence that monetary conditions will ease more aggressively than previously assumed.

Combined with this softer inflation print and signs of cooling in the labour market, investors are increasingly questioning whether markets have fully priced the scale of potential rate reductions ahead. A deeper easing cycle would be a clear tailwind for risk assets. 

Moreover, the betting market currently assigns roughly 75% odds to the return of US stimulus payments next year. 

The last time Donald Trump distributed stimulus checks to US citizens during the COVID-19 pandemic, many invested the entire amount in crypto assets, sending prices soaring. 

Best Crypto To Buy Now: Top Coins For Maximum Returns In 2026

Bitcoin (BTC)

Bitcoin continues to be a top pick among analysts for the best crypto to buy now. 

Glassnode data highlights that shark wallets, which hold 100 to 1k Bitcoin, purchased over $23 billion worth of BTC over the past 30 days, their largest buying spree in 13 years. 

Meanwhile, BTC’s technicals are also indicating the start of a new uptrend. The largest crypto is very close to forming a bullish divergence in the 3-day timeframe, the exact signal which marked the bottom in April and started a new bull run. 

Bitcoin’s RSI also hit the oversold level in the daily timeframe in late November. Macroeconomist Julian Bittel highlights that BTC has since been following the exact price trajectory which it did the last five times its RSI entered the oversold territory. 

Ethereum (ETH)

Several analysts are making a strong argument that Ethereum (ETH) is a higher upside investment in the current stage of the crypto bull cycle. 

Smart money trader Bitcoin OG is leaving even Tom Lee in the dust with his bullish stance on Ethereum.
Lookonchain data shows that the trader has added another 12,406 ETH to his long position, which is now worth over $577 million, despite the recent drop in the Ethereum price. 

Meanwhile, Tom Lee’s BitMine now holds nearly 4 million coins, 3.28% of the total Ethereum supply. The company has already purchased $229 million in ETH just this week. 

Behind the strong demand from treasury firms, ETFs and whales, the ETH supply on centralized exchanges has fallen to its lowest level since 2016. As the demand ramps up, the price could quickly explode to a new all-time high. 

Hyperliquid (HYPE)

Hyperliquid (HYPE) is currently one of the most undervalued altcoins on the market. 

The HYPE price is now down over 60% from September’s high, and 40% over the past month. Besides the broader market bearishness, the aggressive token unlock schedule has added significant downward pressure to the token price. 

Since November, the company has been releasing over $500 million worth of tokens every month. 

However, prominent analyst Route 2 FI claims that investors have massively overreacted to the token unlock schedule. In fact, he claims that he is considering opening a long position in the crypto. 

In fact, Lookonchain data is showing that whales are already buying HYPE, owing to its attractive trading volume, massive fees and revenue and continued token buyback. 

Uniswap (UNI)

Uniswap (UNI) is getting votes as the best crypto to buy now from several top experts after its latest governance proposal. 

It remains one of the most important assets in decentralized finance, sitting at the centre of on-chain trading activity across Ethereum and multiple layer-2 networks. 

As the largest decentralized exchange by volume, Uniswap consistently captures real user demand rather than speculative hype, which makes UNI a useful proxy for DeFi health.

Recently, sentiment around UNI has improved following progress on the long-discussed fee switch, with a proposal moving forward to activate protocol fees and burn up to 100 million UNI if approved. 

This would meaningfully change UNI’s supply dynamics and tie token value more directly to platform usage.

Meanwhile, the token price is very close to a multi-year support level. Moreover, it has also broken out of a multi-week wedge, which trader Zayk Charts claims could trigger a 30% to 40% rally. 

Maxi Doge (MAXI)

Maxi Doge (MAXI) round out our list of best cryptocurrencies to buy now. Check out the extended guide here. 

Despite the recent pullback in the sector, meme coins continue to be attractive investments and are still in high demand among retail investors. In particular, low-cap meme coins keep delivering outsized returns. Maxi Doge has emerged as one such standout pick. 

Much like several successful meme coins, MAXI leans fully into meme culture, ditching fake utility in favour of pure degen energy. 

The project is built around a hyper-masculine, gym-bro Doge aesthetic with Red Bull vibes, shredded physiques, and over-the-top confidence that resonates strongly with retail traders. 

It is intentionally loud, self-aware, and relatable, tapping into crypto’s risk-on culture where momentum, humour, and community matter more than roadmaps. That raw meme appeal is exactly what has helped Maxi Doge stand out in a crowded field.

The new meme coin has already raised nearly $4.5 million in its presale. Early buyers are angling for 10x returns, in addition to the high staking rewards.