AI-related cryptocurrencies led the market rally on January 5th, with several AI-related tokens ranking high on CoinMarketCap’s 24-hour trending list.
According to the latest data, $VIRTUAL rose more than 18%, $FET rose more than 14%, and $RENDER rose about 13% as funds moved into the crypto AI sector. This is followed by $PEPE (up 7.92%), $STX (up 7.49%), and $BONK (up 5.54%).
Rounding up the top 10, we get $SPX, $PENGU, $HYPE, and $AERO.
AI crypto tokens are now worth a total of $19.69 billion, with over $6 billion traded daily, indicating strong investor capital entering this specialized space.
Experts point to growing interest in AI, mainly from large investors in the United States. Last year, around $3 billion was spent on AI projects, and crypto ventures that combine artificial intelligence, distributed computing and automation were also given a boost.
What’s behind the gathering?
Investors appear to be moving money away from meme coins and crowded altcoins to tokens that have real uses and leverage new technology trends like AI and blockchain. These projects often focus on things like decentralized AI, automated trading agents, and peer-to-peer computing networks, which fit into the current excitement around AI.
Related: Virtuals Protocol 2026 prediction: AI agents and robotics hurtling towards $2-3
Interestingly, market data shows that the AI sector cap has grown from around $16.63 billion in early January to nearly $19 billion, an increase of about 14% in just one week. This is a clear sign that capital is flowing into these assets faster than before.
Another reason for the rise may be the development of individual projects. For example, the price of Virtuals Protocol ($VIRTUAL) has been rising sharply as investors prepare for the agent marketplace launch on January 15th. The market expects this launch to further increase users and activity on the network.
But experts warn that many AI-branded crypto projects may not last long. The sector is still young and many tokens lack a solid foundation. Recent analysis suggests that only projects with real-world applications, active teams, and realistic growth plans are likely to survive a potential market sweep in 2026.
Related: Top 10 AI and Big Data Encryption Projects by Development: ICP, NEAR, FIL Lead Rankings
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