Top 5 altcoins under $1: Arbitrum, PEPE, and a new Ethereum presale catch analyst attention

Altcoins priced under $1 continue to attract traders looking for affordable entries in 2025. Arbitrum and PEPE remain in focus, while MAGACOIN FINANCE stands out as a legitimate project pushing a safety-first approach in a space often clouded by scams.

Arbitrum (ARB): Ethereum’s scaling powerhouse

Arbitrum is one of Ethereum’s most relied-upon Layer-2 solutions, priced at around $0.54. It uses optimistic rollups to process faster and cheaper transactions while still benefiting from Ethereum’s core security. This has made it one of the busiest L2 networks, handling more daily volume than the Ethereum mainnet itself.

Adoption continues to accelerate, with institutions like BlackRock’s BUIDL network and Franklin Templeton’s OnChain fund integrated into its ecosystem. In terms of activity, Arbitrum has seen nearly 12 million weekly transactions and over half a million new weekly users during peak months. With this level of usage, it’s not surprising that many view ARB as one of the best cryptos to buy under $1.

ARB also carries weight in governance. As the token of the Arbitrum DAO, it allows holders to participate in shaping upgrades and fund allocations. While risks like large unlock events exist, retail sentiment on platforms like Reddit suggests traders see it as a strategic play on Ethereum’s future.

PEPE: Meme hype keeps it alive

PEPE coin continues to live up to its reputation as a high-risk, high-reward altcoin. The meme-driven token has seen extraordinary levels of speculative activity, with $87 million worth of PEPE trading hands in just a single day.

On-chain data shows that over 96% of holders were in profit after a monthly jump of nearly 90%, sparking renewed retail buzz. Exchange support also plays a role—Binance added PEPE to its Super Stake program, which immediately lifted its price by about 7%.

Forecasts for PEPE vary wildly. Some analysts suggest moderate gains toward $0.0000198, while others envision much larger moves fueled by speculative rallies. What’s clear is that, despite the volatility, PEPE remains one of the top altcoins under $1 that traders keep a close eye on.