Florida’s strategic Bitcoin push
According to legislative records, Senate Bill (SB) 1038, sponsored by Republican Senator Joe Gruters, was filed on December 30 and has now been referred to the Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government.
This bill aims to establish a Florida Strategic Cryptocurrency Reserve, managed by the state’s chief financial officer. The legislation would grant the CFO’s office the authority to purchase, hold, manage, and liquidate cryptocurrency under standards similar to those governing public trust assets.
This proposal represents a refinement of earlier efforts to authorize state-level crypto investments. Unlike previous bills that sought to include a wide range of digital assets, SB 1038 restricts eligible purchases to cryptocurrencies that have maintained an average market cap of at least $500 billion over the last two years. Currently, Bitcoin is the only asset that meets this rigorous threshold.
This targeted approach aligns Florida with a conservative investment strategy, essentially treating Bitcoin as digital gold. The new Senate proposal is different from the earlier House Bill 183, filed in October 2025 by Representative Webster Barnaby. That bill sought to allow public entities to invest up to 10% of their funds in a broad spectrum of assets, including NFTs and crypto ETPs.
Market trends: Noteworthy tokens
AIOZ Network ($AIOZ)
AIOZ Network is one of the trending coins this week due to the growing narrative around Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks (DePIN). The token increased by more than 22% in the last seven days as of January 8th, outperforming the general crypto market. AIOZ utilizes a distributed network of nodes to provide content delivery services, effectively decentralizing the streaming industry.
Despite the strong weekly performance, the technical indicators for AIOZ are complicated. The Fear & Greed Index sits at 28, and the overall sentiment is bearish. However, the price prediction is incredibly optimistic, forecasting a rise of 148% to reach $0.2717 by January 2027. This potential upside makes AIOZ a strong candidate for a diversified portfolio. But the volatility is relatively high.
Yei Finance ($CLO)
Yei Finance could be the next crypto to 100x after a massive 61% price increase in the last week alone, as of January 8th. This performance has crushed the global market average and indicated a resurgence of interest in the BNB Chain ecosystem. The trading volume has also increased by more than 13% in the last 24 hours.
However, potential investors must move carefully. Yei Finance has an extremely high volatility rating of 28%, meaning the price is prone to violent swings in both directions. While the price prediction forecasts a 113% rise by January 2027, the neutral sentiment and low Fear & Greed Index suggest that the market is not fully convinced of its longevity.
NEAR Protocol ($NEAR)
NEAR Protocol’s recent performance makes it the best crypto to buy now for long-term holders. The token has had a 9% price increase in the last seven days as of January 8th, outperforming both the global market and similar Coinbase 50 Index assets. NEAR’s sharding technology and user-friendly “chain abstraction” continue to attract developers and users who are tired of the complexities of other chains.
The long-term outlook for NEAR is very bullish. Analysts forecast a massive 310% rise, with the price potentially reaching $6.99 by July 2026. This prediction is supported by the fact that NEAR has recorded green days 43% of the time over the last month, showing resilience even in a fearful market. However, the current sentiment remains bearish.
Story ($IP)
Story (IP) is among the trending coins this week, focusing on the tokenization of intellectual property. The project has seen a 4% price increase in the last seven days as of January 8th, outperforming the global market slightly. Story aims to change how creators monetize their work by putting IP rights on-chain, a narrative that has immense potential.
However, the short-term signals are flashing caution. The trading volume for Story has declined by 35% in the last 24 hours, suggesting that interest may be reducing temporarily. The volatility is very high, and the sentiment is bearish.
Despite these issues, the price prediction forecasts a 111% rise by January 2027, targeting $4.00.
The bottom line
Florida’s move to build a Bitcoin reserve validates the entire crypto asset class, but it also shows that the easy gains in Bitcoin are behind us. The real wealth in 2026 will be made by those who identify crypto gems that are yet to explode.
FAQs
What is the best crypto to buy now for massive gains?
There are several crypto projects with potential for huge gains within the year. Factors such as recent fundraising, price growth, and low market cap suggest higher multiplier potential than established coins like Bitcoin.
How does the Florida Bitcoin reserve bill affect top cryptocurrencies to buy today?
Florida’s proposal to buy Bitcoin creates a floor for the market and boosts institutional confidence.
Is AIOZ Network a good investment for 2026?
AIOZ Network is one of the trending coins this week and has a strong DePIN narrative. It is a solid choice for diversified portfolios, though there are also other projects with more immediate utility.
What is the big announcement coming for DeepSnitch AI?
Some teams have hinted at major strategic updates, generating interest and volume before upcoming launches.
Why is AuditSnitch important for crypto traders?
AuditSnitch protects traders from scams by instantly auditing token contracts.
