Can XLM, BNB, and XMR beat Bitcoin in January 2026? | Credit: Hameem Sarwar
* XLM could outperform BTC if its Protocol 25 “X-Ray” privacy/ZK rollout sparks a breakout.
* BNB’s price could outperform BTC if the BSC “Fermi” hard fork on Jan. 14 boosts demand.
* XMR’s price could increase if it maintains its ascending channel and bullish Supertrend.
2025 was not a particularly strong year for Bitcoin (BTC) and the broader cryptocurrency market.
Yes, the Bitcoin price hit a new all-time high, but eventually, it ended the year with a negative return.
However, BTC was not the only crypto that struggled. Unlike many people predicted, altcoins suffered even though a few posted huge gains.
With the New Year 2026 here, the market will be looking to scoop altcoins that could outperform Bitcoin. In this analysis, CCN reveals three altcoins that could deliver a strong performance this January.
Stellar (XLM)
XLM tops the list of the altcoins that could outperform BTC this new month.
The token ended 2025 on a weak note, closing the year roughly 52% lower than it started.
However, the narrative may shift in early 2026, driven by a pair of privacy-focused milestones scheduled for this month.
According to Stellar’s roadmap for Protocol 25 (“X-Ray”), the network is expected to begin the rollout with a testnet vote on Jan. 7, followed by a potential mainnet activation on Jan. 22
The upgrade introduces native cryptographic primitives, such as BN254 and Poseidon hashing, designed to make it easier and cheaper for developers to build zero-knowledge (ZK) privacy applications on Soroban.
That timing matters. The final quarter of 2025 saw renewed demand across privacy narratives, and Stellar’s X-Ray rollout could allow XLM to participate in that same rotation.
If the market continues rewarding privacy coins, XLM’s price could see stronger short-term relative performance than BTC.
From a technical standpoint, the 4-hour chart indicates that XLM is still trading within a descending channel.
That said, price is now pressing against the channel’s upper boundary, suggesting bulls are testing for a breakout rather than remaining in passive consolidation.
Momentum is also improving: the Relative Strength Index (RSI) has rebounded from oversold territory, signaling that selling pressure may be cooling.
If this recovery in momentum holds and buyers follow through, XLM’s price could attempt to reclaim resistance near $0.21.
A break above that level would shift the short-term structure and bring $0.24 into focus — an area that aligns with the 0.618 Fibonacci retracement.
However, the bullish case remains conditional.
If demand fails to strengthen as the month progresses and price is rejected at resistance, XLM’s price could remain trapped in the channel and drift below $0.18.
BNB
BNB is also one of the altcoins that may outperform XMR in January 2026.
Interestingly, the token was one of the few altcoins that hit a new high last year. Specifically, it achieved this in October, when it hit $1,370.
As of this writing, BNB is trading around $862.71, down roughly 37% from its all-time high.
However, attention is shifting toward an upcoming network catalyst.
On Jan. 14, BNB Chain is scheduled to activate the BSC Fermi hard fork, which will reduce the block interval from 750 milliseconds to 450 milliseconds.
Once this happens, demand for the coin might increase, potentially driving the price higher.
In support of this, BNB’s price is now in an ascending channel on the 4-hour chart.
Amid that, the Awesome Oscillator (AO) has turned positive. Likewise, the Holders Sentiment has moved above zero again.
Should this remain the case, BNB might experience a breakout toward $928.
On the other hand, if bulls fail to maintain the pressure, the trend could shift, and the price might decline to $844.50.
Monero (XMR)
Third on the list of altcoins that could outperform Bitcoin is XMR.
Last year, Monero was one of the top performers, recording a 119% price increase.
In January 2026, XMR could attempt to extend its recent relative strength, based on the broader daily structure.
While the price has experienced a short-term pullback, the larger trend remains constructive, with XMR still trading within an ascending parallel channel.
Trend confirmation also remains supportive.
The Supertrend indicator continues to display its green band below the spot price, suggesting that bullish control remains intact as long as XMR holds above key support levels.
If this structure holds and momentum returns, XMR’s price could attempt a breakout toward $500.76.
However, the bullish case remains conditional.
If selling pressure accelerates and XMR breaks below the channel’s lower boundary, the uptrend would weaken, opening the door for a deeper retracement toward $365.54.
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