Down 32% or More in 2026, Are Any of These Top Cryptocurrencies Worth Buying Right Now?

Thus far, it's been a grim year for crypto investors. Cryptocurrencies are down across the board, and that includes longtime favorites XRP (CRYPTO: XRP), Cardano (CRYPTO: ADA), and Dogecoin (CRYPTO: DOGE). All are down 32% or more in 2026.

So is this an opportunity to pick these cryptocurrencies up on the cheap, or are they still too risky to buy?

XRP

XRP continues to entice some investors with its upside potential. However, XRP briefly dipped below the $1 mark this summer, and many crypto investors are beginning to question its long-term outlook.

Earlier this year, some crypto boosters' price targets for XRP were as high as $100. Today, it's in the neighborhood of $1.27, and even the most ardent XRP supporters would likely be happy if it hit the $10 level within the next few years.

Image source: Getty Images.

That being said, there's a lot to like about XRP. It all starts with Ripple, the $50 billion fintech behemoth behind the XRP token. Ripple continues to expand globally, as well as to spend vast sums of money to acquire new blockchain- and crypto-related companies. The company's ultimate vision is an end-to-end blockchain-based payment system, all powered by crypto.

The only question, of course, is which "crypto" it's going to be. Will it be XRP -- or will it be the Ripple USD (CRYPTO: RLUSD) stablecoin? If you think it will be XRP, then this beaten-down crypto is worth a closer look. But if you think stablecoins are the future of finance, then XRP might still be too risky to buy.

Cardano

At one time, it looked like Cardano might become "the next Ethereum." However, Cardano has collapsed in value in 2026, and no longer ranks among the top 10 cryptocurrencies in the world by market cap. This year, even Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson admitted that its blockchain ecosystem might be in serious trouble.

The problem, quite simply, is that Cardano has never made much of an impact in the decentralized finance (DeFi) space. It was late to the party for DeFi, and has never recovered. Even today, Cardano ranks a paltry 35th when it comes to measuring Total Value Locked (TVL), a key metric for determining overall DeFi health.

The only bright spot for the crypto is that it appears to be taking active steps to regain its former momentum. In January, the Cardano community approved a new strategic framework that spelled out clear goals, including targets for Total Value Locked, transaction activity, and monthly active users.

For now, though, I'll pass on Cardano. Even at a price of $0.20, it's still too expensive. It's down 93% from its 2021 high, and shows no signs of recovering anytime soon.

Dogecoin

Finally, there's Dogecoin. It's still the most popular meme coin in the world, despite the fact that it is down 35% in 2026.

Dogecoin trades for less than a dime ($0.08) today, which is one reason it continues to attract attention. The crypto get-rich-quick mentality says that you should load up on Dogecoin at crazy-low prices, and then cash out as soon as your position surges in value.

However, as long-term investors realize, that's a recipe for disaster, given that it's almost impossible to time the market with any consistency. Moreover, meme coins were never intended to be true investments. They are purely for fun and entertainment, and can't be taken seriously. Even Elon Musk, a longtime supporter of Dogecoin, has admitted as much.

The reality is that the entire meme coin industry has become so saturated that Dogecoin is no longer as unusual as it was five years ago. That helps to explain why it's down a staggering 88% from the all-time high it touched in 2021. Investors have moved on from meme coins, and you should too.

The only reason why Dogecoin continues to rank among the largest cryptocurrencies in the world is due to its absurdly large coin supply (155 billion coins). Even if Dogecoin trades for mere pennies, that still adds up to a $12 billion market cap.

What is the best bargain crypto to buy?

While there are a lot of options to choose from when sifting through the crypto bargain basement bin now, the only token worth even considering is XRP. If the Clarity Act passes this year, and President Donald Trump and his administration continue to throw their support behind the crypto industry, XRP is almost certain to go along for the ride.

Dominic Basulto has positions in Cardano, Ethereum, and XRP. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Ethereum and XRP. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.