Best Meme Coins to Buy: 3 Base Cryptos With High Upside Potential
As the calendar turns to 2026, the digital asset landscape shows a clear split. Traditional safe havens like gold and silver have hit record highs, while crypto drifts through “Santa rally fatigue.”
Bitcoin has dropped below $88,000, and search interest for crypto has fallen to a six-month low as retail investors remain on the sidelines.
Beneath this slow surface, the Base chain continues to gain strength. Base has just crossed $4.4 billion in total value locked, even as other Layer-1s and Layer-2s lose engagement.
This divergence shows that Base meme coins now act as real liquidity drivers, not just memes, within Coinbase’s growing on-chain economy.
Many analysts expect 2026 to reward projects that maintained strong communities during this quiet phase. With Base generating more than 60% of all Layer-2 revenue, the “Coinbase wealth effect” continues to build momentum.
This environment positions Bitcoin Hyper (HYPER) as a standout contender for the best meme coin to buy right now. While it taps into the viral energy of the meme sector, $HYPER remains a fundamentally high-utility infrastructure play.
Before exploring what this new crypto coin offers, below are three Base-chain tokens drawing attention as potential top picks for the 2026 supercycle.
Source – Cryptonews YouTube Channel
Russell (RUSSELL)
The first token analysts are closely watching is Russell (RUSSELL), a breakout mascot on the Base chain that has surged in popularity.
Inspired by Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong’s dog, the project has gained momentum through high-profile interactions involving both Armstrong and Elon Musk, driving a strong rally that briefly pushed Russell above its previous all-time high of $0.02 set in November 2024.
As of December 28, 2025, Russell trades around $0.0051, with a market capitalization near $5.3 million and roughly $2.4 million in 24-hour trading volume, making it one of the top trending meme coins on the Base app.
While the token has entered a technical correction after its parabolic move, growing visibility and speculation around a potential Coinbase listing have positioned Russell as a project that could see significant upside in 2026.
Toshi (TOSHI)
Building on Base’s momentum, analysts highlight Toshi (TOSHI) as a high-conviction play and a leading mascot for the ecosystem.
The project takes its name from Satoshi Nakamoto and draws inspiration from Brian Armstrong’s cat, helping it grow a large, loyal community focused on a long-term, multi-billion-dollar vision.
As of December 28, 2025, TOSHI trades around $0.00030 with a market cap near $135 million. The token dipped about 1.4% over the past 24 hours due to lighter holiday volume and cautious market conditions, but on-chain data remains strong, with 31.7% of the supply recently moving into new whale wallets.
With the upcoming MEOW DAO launch and the planned rollout of its “1-click meme factory” through Toshi Mart in Q1 2026, many analysts see Toshi as undervalued and positioned for significant upside next year.
Brett (BRETT)
Rounding out the core trio on the Base chain, Brett (BRETT) represents the laid-back character from Matt Furie’s Boy’s Club comic and holds fame as Pepe’s best friend.
Traders often debate its role alongside other Base tokens, but BRETT’s deep cultural link to the most successful meme in crypto history gives it a strong edge. Many believe that when Pepe gains momentum, BRETT tends to move with it.
As of December 28, 2025, BRETT trades around $0.0146, holds a market capitalization of roughly $144.5 million, and ranks as the largest meme coin on the Base network.
Despite volatility earlier in the year, the token has climbed about 7% over the past week, outperforming several major meme coins on Solana.
Bitcoin Hyper (HYPER)
As the crypto market matures, investor focus continues to shift away from short-term speculation and toward scalable infrastructure with real utility. Networks that offer speed, low costs, and strong distribution now attract the bulk of new capital.
One ecosystem gaining rapid traction is Base, Coinbase’s Layer-2 network built on Ethereum. Base delivers fast transactions, low fees, and direct access to Coinbase’s massive user base, helping it become a hub for on-chain activity, meme coins, and early-stage innovation.
Its sharp rise in total value locked and user engagement reflects a broader trend: capital flows toward platforms that combine utility with built-in distribution.
A similar infrastructure narrative is unfolding around Bitcoin scalability. As demand grows for faster and cheaper Bitcoin transactions, Layer-2 solutions aim to expand Bitcoin’s functionality without compromising its security.
Bitcoin Hyper tackles Bitcoin’s biggest limits. Bitcoin works well as a store of value, but it runs slow and costs a lot to use. Bitcoin Hyper builds a Layer 2 using the Solana Virtual Machine to add fast transactions, low fees, and smart contracts to Bitcoin.
If the project succeeds, Bitcoin could support low-cost transactions, native DeFi, and advanced applications while still using Bitcoin as the settlement layer. This potential shift explains why many investors view Bitcoin Hyper as a best meme coin to buy now.
The project has already raised around $30 million, with the token priced at $0.013495. Current projections point to a Q1 2026 launch, with some estimates targeting a post-launch price between $0.15 and $0.30, implying a potential return of up to 20x if adoption accelerates.
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