ZKP Takes the Lead With $1.7B Presale Auction Prediction as Ethereum and Chainlink Drift

Crypto markets have moved into 2026 with strong support behind the broader rally. Total market capitalization has stayed close to the $3 trillion level, while daily trading volume has consistently remained above $120 billion. This shows liquidity is still present and risk interest has not faded, even as traders become more selective.

In this environment, Chainlink crypto has held its ground as a core infrastructure asset, but recent price action suggests slower upside after earlier momentum cooled. At the same time, the Ethereum price continues to react sharply to wider market moves, creating volatility but also raising doubts about how much clear upside remains at current levels.

This dynamic is why ZKP is gaining stronger focus as a network still in the presale auction stage, built around private AI and a decentralized data marketplace. Analysts highlight a projected $1.7 billion raise as evidence of long-term execution strength through 2030, positioning ZKP as the next big crypto with greater upside potential than LINK and ETH.

ZKP Draws Early Interest With AI and Data Incentives

ZKP is a privacy-focused AI and data marketplace project that remains in its presale auction phase, allowing early participants access before full network deployment. The system is designed to verify data without revealing it, using zk-SNARK cryptography alongside encrypted storage from the start.

Built on Substrate with support for EVM smart contracts, the project targets real-world use cases across healthcare, finance, AI training, and research. Analysts following development estimate current testnet performance between 100 and 200 transactions per second, with planned improvements aiming for 800 to 1,000 TPS over time, and more than 3,000 TPS through dedicated parachains. This level of scale is one reason experts continue to refer to it as the next big crypto.

ZKP also introduces Proof Pods priced at $249, designed to generate proof-based rewards while using roughly 10 watts of power. At level 1, daily earnings are framed around $1 worth of ZKP at presale auction pricing, with a structured upgrade path that can extend to much higher levels for active participants.

What strengthens the upside case is the depth of expected funding. Analysts point to forecasts of a $1.7 billion raise, providing the runway to deliver major milestones through 2030. These include post-quantum security planning, expanded AI validation systems, and growth of the data marketplace.

For investors, this structure is important because many crypto projects lose pace when funding tightens. Analysts instead describe ZKP’s crypto presale auction as a rare chance to enter a well-funded build cycle, reinforcing its position as the next big crypto with meaningful long-term potential.

Chainlink Trading Update as Prices Cool

Chainlink crypto is holding near the $12.01 to $12.05 level, with a 24 hour range sitting close to $12.05 and $12.47. Daily trading volume has stayed solid between about $425M and $451M, showing that liquidity remains healthy even during a short pause in momentum. Circulating supply is close to 708.1M LINK, which keeps the asset firmly placed among large cap cryptocurrencies.

Over the past few trading sessions, Chainlink crypto has recorded a clear drop in market value as price slipped from the $13.33 area down into the low $12 range. This move pushed market capitalization from around $9.4B toward roughly $8.5B, marking a decline of nearly $0.9B in a short time frame. Even after this pullback, LINK continues to stay on investor watchlists due to its close link with core infrastructure activity across the wider crypto market.

Ethereum Price Snapshot as Volatility Persists

Ethereum price has been moving around $2,891 to $2,899, with the last 24 hour range stretching from about $2,873 up to $3,014. Trading activity remains heavy, with daily volume close to $32.2B and circulating supply near 120.69M ETH, keeping Ethereum central to overall market liquidity.

During recent sessions, the Ethereum price has fallen from around $3,199 down into the high $2,800s, leading to a sharp reduction in market capitalization. Estimates suggest market value dropped from near $386B to around $350B, cutting roughly $35B to $40B over a brief period. Despite this slide, Ethereum continues to act as a major market anchor since its movements often influence sentiment across leading altcoins.

Final Take

Chainlink crypto maintained steady liquidity around the $12 range, but the recent dip also highlighted how fast large cap assets can lose momentum when buying pressure eases. Even with strong volume and a key role in infrastructure, upside can appear limited when prices cool and market value contracts.

Ethereum price also moved lower from above $3,100 into the high $2,800s, removing tens of billions from its market cap in a short span. It remains a core market reference point, yet these sharp swings underline the risks of entering after a strong move has already played out.

This backdrop explains why analysts are increasingly pointing to ZKP as a crypto presale auction-stage project with uncommon financial backing. Experts reference projections of a $1.7B raise as a key reason it can pursue scaling goals such as specialized parachains and more than 3,000 TPS, positioning it as a serious next big crypto candidate.

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