Picture this: the crypto market has just endured one of its toughest years in recent memory, with prices sliding and sentiment hitting rock bottom. Yet, in the midst of all that gloom, a seasoned Wall Street veteran steps forward with a bold prediction that could signal the next big turnaround. That’s exactly what happened when Anthony Scaramucci shared his outlook for 2026, pointing to three specific altcoins he believes are primed for serious gains.
I’ve followed crypto long enough to know that when someone like Scaramucci—founder of SkyBridge Capital and no stranger to high-stakes finance—starts naming names, it’s worth paying attention. His picks aren’t random; they’re rooted in a mix of macroeconomic shifts, regulatory hope, and fundamental strengths that he thinks will shine through in the coming year.
Why 2026 Could Mark the Altcoin Comeback
Let’s be honest—2025 was rough for anyone holding altcoins. Prices got hammered, and many investors wondered if the glory days were gone for good. According to Scaramucci, a big part of the pain came from heavy selling by large holders, often referred to as whales, who took profits as money flowed into newer investment vehicles like ETFs.
Add in a sharp deleveraging event around mid-October, and you had a perfect storm. Liquidity dried up temporarily, market makers got squeezed, and even Bitcoin took a roughly 30% hit. It’s the kind of environment that pushes sentiment indicators to extreme lows—Scaramucci mentioned his own gauge sitting at just 13 or 14 out of 100.
But here’s where it gets interesting. He believes the worst of that selling pressure is behind us. With whales potentially exhausted after unloading positions, steadier inflows into established products, and a more favorable policy landscape on the horizon, the setup for 2026 looks dramatically different.
The Macro Tailwinds Building Up
One of the biggest drivers Scaramucci highlights is monetary policy. He expects central banks to deliver between two and four interest rate cuts over the next year. Lower rates typically mean cheaper borrowing, more risk appetite, and stronger performance across growth assets—including cryptocurrencies.
In my view, this makes perfect sense. When money is expensive, investors pull back from speculative plays. But as rates ease, capital starts flowing toward higher-upside opportunities again. We’ve seen this cycle play out before, and crypto often benefits disproportionately because of its volatility and growth narrative.
There’s also a political angle. With midterm elections approaching, policymakers on both sides of the aisle have incentives to support economic growth measures. Crypto has become a surprisingly bipartisan issue in recent years, partly because of substantial campaign contributions from industry players.
Lower rates and pro-growth policies tend to lift all boats, but especially the riskier ones floating farthest from shore.
Regulatory Clarity: The Game-Changer Everyone’s Waiting For
Perhaps the most underrated catalyst right now is regulation—or rather, the lack of clear rules holding things back. Scaramucci specifically called out the need for market-structure reforms in the U.S., pointing to proposed legislation like the Clarity Act as a potential breakthrough.
Why does this matter so much? Because without legal certainty, big institutions hesitate to pour serious money into tokenization projects or broader blockchain adoption. Who wants to invest billions retooling financial infrastructure if tomorrow’s rules might render it non-compliant?
Scaramucci puts the odds of meaningful legislation passing before the midterms at over 50%. If he’s right, that could unlock a wave of institutional activity we’ve only seen hints of so far. Tokenization of real-world assets, seamless on-chain finance, and deeper integration with traditional markets—all of it becomes far more viable with clearer guidelines.
- Reduced legal risk encourages institutional participation
- Clear rules accelerate tokenization of traditional assets
- Bipartisan support increases likelihood of passage
- Global competitiveness pushes U.S. lawmakers to act
Scaramucci’s Top Three Altcoin Picks Explained
Now to the heart of the matter—the three altcoins Scaramucci is betting on. He didn’t just throw out popular names; each choice reflects specific strengths he believes will stand out in the coming environment.
First and foremost: Solana. He describes it as low-cost, lightning-fast, and extremely developer-friendly. In a world where transaction fees and speed can make or break user adoption, those qualities give Solana a real edge for everyday applications and DeFi protocols.
Interestingly, he frames this bullishness within a “multicoin” future rather than an either/or battle with other layer-1 chains. He still holds a positive view on Ethereum, suggesting room for multiple ecosystems to thrive based on different use cases.
Avalanche: Subnets and Scalability
Next up is Avalanche. While Scaramucci didn’t dive into exhaustive technical details, the platform’s ability to support custom subnets—essentially tailored blockchains—offers unique flexibility for enterprises and specialized applications.
That modularity could prove valuable as institutions explore blockchain without wanting to build everything on fully public networks. Combined with Avalanche’s strong performance metrics and growing ecosystem, it positions the token well for renewed interest when capital flows return.
TON: The Telegram Integration Advantage
The third pick might raise a few eyebrows: TON, the native token of The Open Network originally linked to Telegram. Scaramucci openly admitted buying in at higher prices before averaging down, showing real conviction.
The appeal here is straightforward—access to Telegram’s massive user base. With hundreds of millions of active users already on the messaging app, any meaningful integration of wallet functionality or mini-apps could drive explosive adoption. It’s one of those network effects that, once ignited, can grow incredibly fast.
When you tie blockchain utility to a platform people already use daily, the path to mainstream becomes much shorter.
– Observation from watching social-driven crypto projects
What This Means for Bitcoin and the Broader Market
Scaramucci isn’t abandoning Bitcoin either. In fact, he recently added more for his family portfolio, maintaining his long-term price targets despite admitting his timing was off by about a year.
The logic ties back to the same catalysts: steadier ETF inflows absorbing remaining sell pressure, accommodative monetary policy, and a more supportive regulatory backdrop. If those pieces fall into place, Bitcoin could resume its role as the rising tide lifting altcoins even higher.
From my perspective, this balanced approach—holding core Bitcoin exposure while selectively allocating to high-conviction altcoins—makes a lot of sense for the current cycle stage. We’re likely transitioning from fear-driven capitulation toward cautious optimism.
Risks to Consider Before Jumping In
Of course, no prediction is guaranteed. Crypto remains volatile, and plenty could derail the bullish scenario. Regulatory progress might stall. Rate cuts could be fewer than expected if inflation resurfaces. Or new macroeconomic shocks could emerge.
Technical risks specific to each chain also exist—network outages, competition, or execution challenges. That’s why Scaramucci’s strategy of averaging into positions rather than going all-in at once feels prudent.
- Monitor legislative developments closely
- Watch central bank announcements for rate signals
- Track on-chain metrics for genuine adoption growth
- Maintain proper position sizing and diversification
Looking Further Ahead: Tokenization and Mass Adoption
Beyond 2026, the real prize Scaramucci seems excited about is tokenization transforming traditional finance. Bringing real-world assets on-chain could create trillions in new value—if the regulatory foundation supports it.
Platforms offering speed, low costs, and developer tools will likely capture disproportionate share of that activity. Which brings us full circle to why Solana, Avalanche, and TON stand out: each brings something unique to the table for builders and users alike.
Maybe the most intriguing part is how interconnected everything has become. Macro policy influences risk appetite. Regulation shapes institutional flows. Technology determines which chains attract developers. When several of these line up positively, the upside can be substantial.
At the end of the day, Scaramucci’s outlook serves as a reminder that crypto cycles turn. Extreme bearish sentiment often marks the bottom, and patient investors positioning for the recovery can benefit handsomely. Whether his exact picks play out or not, the underlying catalysts he identifies—rate cuts, regulatory progress, and technological strengths—deserve close attention heading into 2026.
If you’re sitting on the sidelines wondering whether it’s time to dip back in, his perspective offers food for thought. The ingredients for an altcoin resurgence appear to be falling into place. The question is: will you be ready when sentiment finally flips?
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