Shiba Inu (SHIB) remains a focal point for altcoin investors as 2026 nears, despite experiencing a significant downturn this year. The cryptocurrency reached a multi-year low of $0.0000066, in stark contrast to the highs seen by Bitcoin and Ethereum in 2025. Proponents highlight the potential impact of the CLARITY Act, Zama's Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE) on Shibarium, and the possibility of ETF approval as positive developments. However, skepticism persists due to the anonymity of the development team, the lack of tangible real-world applications, and a massive circulating supply exceeding 589 trillion tokens. The fear and greed index reflects a mixed sentiment among investors, with analysts advising caution due to unresolved structural risks associated with SHIB.