On December 25, CoinGlass dropped numbers that should make every crypto investor pay attention: crypto derivatives exploded to $85.7 trillion in 2025, averaging $265 billion per day. These institutional volume metrics provide critical validation signals for those interested in the market.
This creates a direct opportunity for retail investors to get ahead of the next institutional deployment wave by identifying emerging projects before institutional bids send valuations surging and eliminate early entry points forever. DeepSnitch AI is making headlines with over $900K raised, 100% gains for early participants, and three live AI agents already active while most projects are still in their early development phase.
Why $86T in derivatives volume creates urgency for entry
CoinGlass reported that crypto derivatives trading surged to $85.7 trillion in 2025. Binance moved $25.09 trillion, while OKX, Bybit, and Bitget added another $27.2 trillion combined. Four exchanges controlling 62.3% of market share signal institutional money positioning heavy for what’s coming next.
Derivatives volume at this magnitude doesn’t happen in isolation. It reflects institutional capital building positions, hedging exposure, and preparing infrastructure for significantly larger deployments ahead.
The CME overtaking Binance in Bitcoin futures open interest proves traditional finance is entering crypto through compliant pathways, which validates the entire sector for larger allocations. For traders seeking emerging opportunities, this institutional validation removes previous barriers to capital deployment.
The opportunity window exists because institutional money moves more slowly than retail. Funds need compliance frameworks, legal approvals, allocation committees, and risk assessments.
You can explore opportunities today while institutions are still navigating internal processes and negotiating private allocations that won’t be available to retail in three months.
Keep an eye on project calendars because early windows close fast when exchange listings hit and early entry pricing disappears forever.
Top 5 emerging crypto projects to watch in 2026
DeepSnitch AI (DSNT)
Most trending new projects promise functionality “post-launch” while capital sits locked, hoping delivery actually happens. DeepSnitch AI reversed that model by shipping 3 fully functional AI agents early, and early participant returns prove the market values working products over roadmap promises. Participants who entered early are already up 95% while the project is still active.
This is one of the best projects to monitor right now because you’re not speculating on vaporware. The tools are live, the dashboard is accessible, and you can test functionality before exchange listings create the inevitable supply crunch that ends current pricing. The project delivers 5 AI agents total, with 3 operational now and 2 more deploying at launch.
Over $900,000 has been raised with tokens currently priced at $0.03020, delivering 100% gains for participants who secured early opportunities at lower entry points. The dashboard is live and accessible now for early buyers, providing hands-on platform access before most traders know the project exists.
Security is handled with completed audits from Solid Proof and Coinsult, removing typical anxieties about malicious contracts or hidden backdoors that destroy projects before they list.
DeepSnitch is offering special Christmas and New Year bonuses that let traders stack a much bigger position at current prices. With DSNTVIP50, you get 50% extra tokens on purchases over $2k, and with DSNTVIP100, your allocation is doubled on buys above $5k. These bonus codes expire on January 1st, so anyone looking to maximize position size needs to act fast.
This is why DeepSnitch AI is a project to keep an eye on. It combines working tools you can test today, proven early gains creating wealth potential, and January exchange listing rumours that could change pricing forever.
Remittix (RTX)
Cross-border payments move $150 trillion annually, banks extract 3% to 7% in fees on every transaction, and settlement takes 3 to 5 business days while your capital sits frozen. Remittix is building blockchain infrastructure that settles international transfers in under 2 minutes with fees under 1%, directly attacking the payment rails that banks have monopolized for decades.
This is a notable project for traders who understand that the biggest opportunities exist where massive legacy markets meet superior blockchain infrastructure. Remittix isn’t competing with other crypto payment projects; it’s going directly after SWIFT, Western Union, and bank wire transfers that still dominate global commerce despite being slow and expensive.
Right now, RTX is trading around $0.0119, giving early buyers positioning before the public launch. If Remittix captures even 1% of cross-border payment volume, you’re looking at potential for strong returns as adoption scales and enterprise clients deploy the platform for international settlements.
Blockchain FX (BFX)
Forex moves $7.5 trillion daily, crypto does maybe $100 billion on a good day, and BlockchainFX is building infrastructure to merge these markets and capture the spread inefficiencies that exist when you bridge traditional FX with blockchain settlement speed.
This project appears because traders recognize that FX-crypto convergence is inevitable. Traditional forex markets have liquidity, crypto has speed and programmability, and BlockchainFX is positioned at the intersection where both markets meet.
Right now, BFX is trading around $0.031, creating early investor opportunities before public launch. If adoption scales and exchange listings create liquidity, BFX could see substantial growth by late 2026, especially if the platform handles significant daily volume and grows its institutional user base.
Lutar ($LUTAR)
Gaming drove $184 billion in revenue in 2024, yet gamers own nothing they earn in-game. Lutar is building blockchain infrastructure that gives players actual ownership of assets, currencies, and rewards they generate, creating real economies inside gaming ecosystems instead of walled gardens controlled by publishers.
Lutar ranks among trending new projects because timing aligns with gamer frustration hitting critical mass. Major gaming communities are exploring blockchain integration, publishers are testing NFT implementation, and players want ownership of the value they create through gameplay.
Lutar is priced at around $0.004 right now, making it accessible for early positioning. If gaming adoption accelerates and major titles integrate Lutar’s infrastructure, potential exists for strong returns as the platform captures gaming economy volume that currently stays locked inside centralized ecosystems.
Bitcoin Hyper ($HYPER)
Bitcoin Layer 2 solutions are proliferating, but most focus on DeFi functionality while ignoring Bitcoin’s core value proposition: security and settlement finality. Bitcoin Hyper is building L2 infrastructure that preserves Bitcoin’s security model while adding smart contract capability and faster throughput without sacrificing decentralization.
This appears because Bitcoin L2 represents one of the few narratives that could drive significant institutional capital in 2026. If Bitcoin ETFs continue absorbing billions in inflows, demand for Bitcoin-native DeFi infrastructure will grow as institutions look for yield on BTC holdings without custody risk.
Bitcoin Hyper is trading around $0.013485 right now, creating positioning opportunities before Layer 2 narrative drives valuations higher. If the platform captures Bitcoin DeFi volume as institutions deploy capital, potential exists for strong returns as TVL scales and exchange listings create liquidity events.
Final verdict
CoinGlass data showing $86 trillion in derivatives volume proves institutional capital is actively deploying across crypto infrastructure right now. That kind of positioning doesn’t happen unless smart money sees 2026 as a breakout year for the entire sector.
Key opportunities exist in the narrow window where projects have working products, clear utility, and low prices, but haven’t experienced the supply shock that happens when tokens list on exchanges and early allocations run out permanently.
DeepSnitch AI shows how early positioning works. The project has already raised nearly $900K, early buyers are up around 95%, and the AI tools are live and usable right now. With exchange listings rumored for January 2026, the setup looks like a classic early-to-listing supply squeeze where today’s prices simply won’t exist once the market opens up.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know which projects won’t drop sharply at launch?
Look for working products before listing, not promises. The best projects have functional tools you can test before listing, like DeepSnitch AI’s live dashboard. If it’s all roadmap and no product, it’s probably vapor that drops soon after launch. Real early opportunities exist with projects shipping functionality during the early phase.
How do I find a reliable project calendar?
A good project calendar tracks upcoming token launches, funding stages, and bonus deadlines. It helps traders spot early opportunities before tokens hit exchanges. Many traders also follow active launches directly, especially those like DeepSnitch AI that publicly share milestones, bonuses, and roadmap updates.
Are trending new opportunities still profitable?
Yes, trending new projects can be highly profitable, especially when entered early. The biggest gains usually come from projects that gain traction before listings and attract strong communities. Utility-focused projects with working platforms, such as AI-powered trading tools, tend to outperform hype-only launches over time.
