The crypto market in early 2026 is showing mixed results. Bitcoin is staying steady around $91,000, and the overall market is hovering near a $3 trillion valuation. Solana is trading at $138 after hitting $6.7 billion in daily decentralized exchange (DEX) volume, while Chainlink is priced at $13.22 despite landing big partnerships with Coinbase and major institutions. Both Solana and Chainlink are strong projects with real-world use, but their higher prices make it harder for new investors to see the kind of life-changing gains that early adopters once enjoyed.

This is where a newer project like Zero Knowledge Proof (ZKP) comes in, offering something different—and potentially much more rewarding. ZKP combines privacy-focused blockchain technology with AI-powered computing. It uses small hardware devices called Proof Pods, which cost just $249 and are designed to plug into your home internet. These Pods do the work of validating transactions while keeping everything private using advanced cryptography.

Unlike Bitcoin mining, which needs giant warehouses and expensive electricity bills, or Ethereum staking that requires technical know-how, ZKP lets anyone earn passive income by simply plugging in a device at home. Just keep your Proof Pod online and it will earn you ZKP tokens daily—no tech skills or huge investments needed.

Experts believe ZKP has massive upside. Some projections suggest the token could grow 500x to 3,000x in value, far beyond what’s expected from Bitcoin or Ethereum. So not only are you earning daily rewards, but you’re also stacking up an asset that could explode in value over time.

Thousands of these Proof Pods are already being shipped around the world, helping to build a global network of everyday people earning crypto from home. Each new Pod helps grow the system while rewarding its user with fresh ZKP tokens. This is why many believe ZKP is the best crypto to buy right now—because you’re investing in both hardware and cryptocurrency at once.

Your home becomes a money-making machine. Your electric bill turns into an income stream. That’s the ZKP vision that’s catching the eye of smart investors.

Now let’s take another look at Solana and Chainlink.

Solana is still a top crypto project. At $138 per coin and with a market cap over $80 billion, it’s one of the biggest names out there. Its network processed 121 billion transactions in 2025, averaging 1,190 transactions per second—faster than most other blockchains. Solana also had a record-breaking $6.7 billion in daily DEX volume and attracted big names like Galaxy Digital and State Street, who plan to launch a tokenized fund on its network.

But for new investors hoping for 10x or 100x returns, Solana may have already grown too big. To go from $138 to $1,380 would require massive new money coming in, which isn’t easy even for such a strong project. ETFs built on Solana have gathered over $1 billion, and developers are adding more DeFi apps, but the chances of explosive growth are shrinking as the price goes up.

Chainlink is another solid project trading at $13.22 with a $9.36 billion market cap. It’s the leading oracle network that connects smart contracts to real-world data. Chainlink had a great year in 2025—Coinbase chose it to handle $7 billion in wrapped assets, Lido upgraded to Chainlink tech for its $33 billion ETH staking product, and cross-chain activity grew almost 2,000% to reach $7.77 billion annually.

Chainlink also powered over $27 trillion in total transaction value and has two ETFs launching soon—Grayscale’s GLNK already has $63 million invested. Partnerships with J.P. Morgan, UBS, and the U.S. Department of Commerce show how trusted Chainlink has become.

Still, at $13.22, it’s harder for new investors to see huge gains. Even if Chainlink jumps to $100 per token, that’s just under an 8x return—not bad, but far from game-changing compared to what early-stage projects can offer.

To sum it all up: Solana and Chainlink are strong and reliable, but their high valuations limit how much more they can grow quickly. They’re great for stability and long-term use cases—but not ideal if you’re chasing massive returns.

Zero Knowledge Proof (ZKP), on the other hand, is offering something fresh and exciting. The Proof Pod gives you a way to earn daily income from home while also holding a token that experts say could surge in value by hundreds or even thousands of times. With low entry cost, no tech skills required, and a growing global network, ZKP may be the best crypto to buy in 2026 for those looking to turn small investments into major gains.