An infrastructure activist shareholder is pressuring Bitcoin miner Riot Platforms to pivot aggressively toward high-performance computing (HPC). This strategic shift suggests that the future of crypto isn’t just about hashing algorithms. As miners turn into data centers, the complexity of the market increases.

Still, investors are searching for the best altcoins to buy now, with DeepSnitch AI leading the race. While top altcoins like WLFI and Lighter show promise, with potential gains in the future, DeepSnitch AI is the project that has the chance to deliver 160x profits. More than $1,660,000 has been raised, and it won’t be long before it enters Stage 6.

The multi-billion-dollar AI pivot

The urgency to identify the best altcoins to buy now is being driven by massive institutional maneuvers. Starboard Value, an activist investment firm holding approximately 12.7 million shares of Riot Platforms, sent a decisive letter to the company’s executives. The message was clear: stop just mining Bitcoin and start powering artificial intelligence.

Starboard argues that Riot is sitting on a goldmine of power capacity that is currently underutilized. By moving to high-performance computing (HPC) and hosting AI data centers at its Texas facilities, the shareholder believes Riot could unlock between $9 billion and $21 billion in additional equity value.

Top altcoins for the next bull run

The following projects represent the trending altcoin picks that are defining the current market cycle.

DeepSnitch AI ($DSNT): Why this could deliver 160x gains

When multi-billion-dollar miners like Riot are moving to AI, the market becomes too complex for the average trader to analyze manually. This reality positions DeepSnitch AI as one of the best altcoins to buy now. The days of opening twenty tabs to check Etherscan, Discord, and Twitter are over. That method simply does not scale in a market moving at the speed of AI. DeepSnitch AI solves this by monetizing risk analysis rather than just trading activity.

DeepSnitch AI provides a unified dashboard that aggregates on-chain data, smart contract audits, and whale tracking alerts. This is why the project has already raised more than $1,660,000 and has over 37 million tokens staked.

The potential for growth here is staggering. While established tokens fight for single-digit gains, DeepSnitch AI’s low market cap and high utility create a setup where 160x gains are very possible. By automating the due diligence process, DeepSnitch AI becomes indispensable for anyone looking for the best altcoins to buy now.

 

World Liberty Financial market update

World Liberty Financial ($WLFI) is making headlines as one of the trending altcoin picks this week, surging 27% ahead of its highly anticipated World Liberty Forum at Mar-a-Lago.

The invite-only event, featuring over 300 leaders from crypto and finance, has reignited interest in the project despite its bearish macro sentiment.

Forecasts for World Liberty Financial suggest it could hit $0.2128 by the end of 2026, a 75% increase from current rates. While the project is down over 60% from its peak, the Mar-a-Lago effect shows how quickly political and social trends can drive price action.

Lighter ($LIT): One of the best altcoins to buy right now?

Lighter ($LIT) is outperforming the global market, recording a 6% gain in the last seven days as of February 18th, while broader indices are flat. This resilience makes it among the strong altcoin setups to watch. As an Ethereum ecosystem token, Lighter benefits from the liquidity flowing into Layer 2s and DeFi protocols.

Despite extreme fear in the market, Lighter is forecasted to hit $2.57 by the end of 2026, a solid 73% gain. The token has had 15 green days in the last 30, indicating sustained buying pressure. For those hunting for life-changing wealth, DeepSnitch’s 160x potential makes it the standout among the best altcoins to buy now.

Final thoughts

The market is changing very fast, with miners becoming AI hubs and political events driving DeFi tokens. In this chaotic environment, you need an edge, and DeepSnitch AI provides that edge. It is arguably the top pick among the best altcoins to buy now because it solves the universal problem of verification.

A $5,000 investment at the current price of $0.04064 secures roughly 123,031 DSNT tokens, and using the DSNTVIP50 promo code gives you 50% extra tokens.

Visit the official DeepSnitch AI website, join Telegram, and follow on X for more updates.

FAQs

What are the best altcoins to buy now for AI exposure?

DeepSnitch AI ($DSNT) is one of the best altcoins to buy now for AI exposure because it uses AI to verify other projects, benefiting from the sector’s growth without the specific risks of a single mining pivot like Riot.

Why is DeepSnitch AI considered to have 160x potential?

DeepSnitch AI has 160x potential because it is one of the trending altcoin picks addressing a critical market need (verification), with massive token staking supply shocks, differentiating it from mature assets on the list of best altcoins to buy right now.

How does the Riot Platforms news affect strong altcoin setups?

The Riot pivot to AI validates the infrastructure narrative, driving capital toward strong altcoin setups that support data centers and verification, such as DeepSnitch AI.

The post Best Altcoins to Buy Now for Huge 2026 Gains: WLFI and Lighter Promising, but DeepSnitch AI Is the Project Where 160x Gains Are Likely This Cycle appeared first on Blockonomi.

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Filed under: Bitcoin - @ February 19, 2026 4:20 pm