Cryptocurrencies priced under $1 often attract attention for one simple reason: accessibility. Lower-priced tokens allow investors to enter positions without committing large capital, while still leaving room for meaningful growth if the project succeeds. As the market looks ahead to 2026, the most interesting cheap crypto assets tend to fall into two groups—well-known names that have already matured, and newer projects that are still building and pricing in their future potential. Below are three cryptocurrencies currently trading under $1 that are frequently discussed in that context, each for very different reasons.
Dogecoin (DOGE)
Dogecoin remains one of the most recognizable meme coins in the market. As of late December 2025, DOGE has been trading in the $0.12–$0.13 range, reflecting relatively muted activity compared to earlier speculative cycles. While Dogecoin continues to benefit from strong brand recognition and periodic social-media-driven interest, its price action has been largely sideways in recent months.
Analysts generally view Dogecoin as a token that moves with market sentiment rather than fundamentals. Looking into 2026, expectations tend to center around gradual movement rather than sharp appreciation. Forecasts often suggest moderate gains if overall market conditions improve, but large percentage increases are considered unlikely without a renewed speculative wave. As a result, DOGE is often seen as a familiar but limited-growth option at this stage.
Shiba Inu (SHIB)
Shiba Inu is another popular meme-based cryptocurrency that remains priced well below $1. At the end of December 2025, SHIB has been trading around $0.000007–$0.000008, with low volatility and reduced trading volume. Despite ongoing ecosystem efforts, price action has remained relatively flat.
Market analysis points to modest upside potential rather than dramatic price expansion. Many projections for 2026 suggest incremental gains if resistance levels are broken, but expectations of explosive growth have cooled compared to earlier cycles. Like Dogecoin, SHIB’s performance is closely tied to sentiment and broader market momentum, which makes sustained price acceleration difficult to predict.
Mutuum Finance (MUTM)
Mutuum Finance stands apart from meme coins by focusing on utility rather than speculation. The project is building a decentralized lending and borrowing protocol designed to let users earn from their assets or access liquidity without selling them. This functional foundation is one of the reasons analysts increasingly view MUTM as a stronger long-term opportunity among cheap crypto assets.
MUTM is currently in its presale phase, with the token priced at $0.04. The presale originally began at $0.01, meaning the token has already increased by 300% from its initial phase. Even after that move, MUTM remains available at a discounted level, as the confirmed launch price is $0.06. This places current buyers in a favorable position ahead of public trading.
So far, over $19.5 million has been raised, and more than 18,600 holders have already joined the project. Out of the 1.82 billion tokens allocated for the presale, roughly 820 million have been sold, which means nearly half of the presale supply is already gone.
Development is progressing alongside the presale. The team is preparing to launch the V1 protocol, where users will be able to interact with core features such as liquidity pools, mtTokens that represent deposits, borrowing mechanisms, and automated liquidation tools. The lending and borrowing smart contracts have also been fully audited by Halborn, adding confidence as the platform moves closer to release.
Looking ahead, some analysts see a path toward $0.20 after launch based on how similar early-stage DeFi projects have performed once they entered open trading. When a token moves from presale pricing to public markets, demand often increases as access expands and liquidity improves. In Mutuum Finance’s case, this effect could be amplified by the platform becoming usable at the same time the token launches. As more users begin interacting with the protocol and acquiring tokens for participation, buying pressure can rise quickly—often pushing prices well beyond the initial launch level in the early trading phase.
While Dogecoin and Shiba Inu remain popular low-priced cryptocurrencies, their size and market maturity limit how much they are likely to grow by 2026. Mutuum Finance, on the other hand, is still early in its lifecycle, with a token price under $1, an active presale, and a platform nearing launch.
With MUTM still priced at $0.04, a $0.06 launch price, and a presale supply that is steadily shrinking, many investors see this as a chance to position early before public trading begins. For those searching for a cheap crypto with utility, development progress, and room to grow, Mutuum Finance is increasingly being viewed as one of the more compelling options under $1 heading into 2026.
For more information about Mutuum Finance (MUTM) visit the links below:
Website: https://www.mutuum.com
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/mutuumfinance
