Best Crypto to Buy Now, May 18 – Tron, Ethereum, Hyperliquid

Highlights:

• TRX has stayed strong above key support levels while most cryptocurrencies traded lower during the market pullback.
• ETH fell to around $2,111 as bearish pressure pushed the price away from the $2,600 resistance zone.
• HYPE climbed above $45 as buyers pushed the token closer to the key $48 resistance level.

The crypto market is down today after a weekend of profit-taking in the market due to the recent rally caused by the regulatory developments surrounding the CLARITY Act. BTC has dropped below the $78,000 key level to around $76,000, a very bearish signal. Analysts are targeting the $75,000 level in the short term, with a warning that the asset may drop further. From May 11 to May 15, spot Bitcoin ETFs lost more than $1.03 billion, one of the largest outflows in the market.

As of press time, the overall market cap is down 2.33% to $2.55 trillion. Meanwhile, the trading volume is up 40.98% to $74.26 billion. The fear and greed index stands in the fear zone at an index of 38. The total liquidations in the last day totaled $671.85 million, with long positions accounting for $610.96 million, according to Coinglass data. With the market experiencing profit-taking, here are the top crypto contenders today.

Top Crypto Contenders Today

1. TRON (TRX)

The native coin of the TRON blockchain is trading at $0.3562, a 0.12% increase in the past day. In addition, its trading volume is up by 12.99% to $719.9 million. Meanwhile, the market cap stands at $33.77 billion. The coin has gained 1.45% on the weekly chart and 8.58% on the monthly chart.

TRON is trading near the $0.35629 resistance zone after a strong recovery. TRX has already pushed above the $0.30868 and $0.32283 resistance levels during the latest rally. The current advance also shows stronger continuation compared to the slower movement seen earlier this year.

The $0.35262 region is the nearest support zone below the current price. However, rejection near the current levels could trigger short-term consolidation.

2. Ethereum (ETH)

ETH is trading at $2,111, representing a 3.69% decrease over the past 24 hours. The market cap stands at $254.85 billion, while the trading volume has increased by 62.97% to $13.61 billion.

Ethereum is trading inside a rising triangle after recovering from the sharp collapse seen during February. The market has continued printing higher lows while resistance near $2,600 remains unchanged. ETH has approached the $2,600 resistance zone several times but failed to break above the range. Each rejection has slowed momentum and pushed the price back toward the ascending support line.

Ethereum $ETH appears to be breaking out of another flag, reinforcing the importance of the $1,100 area as a key accumulation zone. https://t.co/dESOBW7CSA pic.twitter.com/sJbTF39wZH

— Ali Charts (@alicharts) May 18, 2026

The current recovery also mirrors the earlier consolidation pattern that formed before the February breakdown. That previous setup ended with a strong move lower after support failed. The $1,720 region now stands as the nearest major support below the current price. However, losing the triangle support could expose the $1,420 and $1,130 zones.

3. Hyperliquid (HYPE)

HYPE is currently trading at around $45.15, with a 4.59% increase in the past day. Its trading volume is up 127.66% to $694 million, while the market cap stands at $11.48 billion.

Hyperliquid is pressing against the upper range again after spending several weeks recovering from the May pullback. HYPE has climbed steadily from the low $40 region after buyers quickly absorbed the recent selling pressure. Earlier dips also failed to trigger stronger breakdowns despite repeated tests near support.

$HYPE seems to be forming a huge bearish divergence here.

Daily RSI needs to break above 65, or the entire pump could be retraced. pic.twitter.com/yOTXJAvBP7

— Ted (@TedPillows) May 18, 2026

HYPE is now moving directly beneath the $48 resistance region where earlier rallies stalled during March and April. Another rejection there could restart consolidation, while sustained buying pressure may force a breakout attempt.