AI Crypto Coins Surge 13% Led by Injective and Virtuals Protocol

In the past 24 hours, the cryptocurrency markets experienced a significant rebound, with AI and big data crypto coins leading the charge. Injective [INJ] and Virtuals Protocol [VIRTUAL] were at the forefront of this surge, each gaining over 13%. Following closely were Near Protocol [NEAR] and Theta Network [THETA], among other AI and big data-focused coins.

VIRTUAL had the largest trading volume, followed by Filecoin [FIL], NEAR, Bittensor [TAO], as INJ wrapped up the top 5 among big-cap tokens. This performance raises the question of which AI coins could sustain this trajectory in the long run, especially with the launch of Bitwise NEAR Staking ETP on Deutsche Börse Xetra.

Most AI-focused crypto coins are showing similar price structures. Both VIRTUAL and INJ are approaching key horizontal resistance zones after forming a base of equal lows—an indication of consolidation. At press time, VIRTUAL was trading at $1.6631, attempting to retest its June 20 high. INJ was advancing toward the $12.00–$12.50 resistance area, which has previously triggered rejections.

In both cases, a successful breakout above these levels could extend the current bullish trend. However, failure to clear resistance may signal continued range-bound movement or a potential correction. Supporting this outlook, the MACD indicators on both charts showed bullish crossovers with rising histogram bars—highlighting growing upward momentum.

The rounded base formations and converging MACD signals across multiple charts suggest a pattern of synchronized market behavior. However, none of the assets have confirmed a breakout just yet. A decisive move and close above key resistance could pave the way for further gains—VIRTUAL potentially targeting $2.20, and INJ eyeing $14.19.

Meanwhile, NEAR Protocol and Theta Network exhibit similar structures. Both are forming higher lows and approaching horizontal resistance levels. At the time of writing, NEAR was trading at $2.3426, and Theta hovered near resistance at $0.7313. The MACD indicators for both assets are in bullish crossover territory, reflecting strengthening momentum. However, a confirmed breakout is still needed to validate the upward trend.

If a breakout occurs, NEAR could target $2.80, while Theta might aim for $0.90. However, failure to break above current resistance levels could result in continued range-bound movement. Both price setups suggest the market is approaching key inflection points that may determine short-term direction.

The launch of Bitwise’s NEAR Staking ETP on Deutsche Börse Xetra may have played a key role in boosting sector performance. As the first regulated investment product offering institutional access to NEAR’s staking ecosystem, this development marks a major milestone for Bitwise Europe. The ETP could accelerate the adoption of NEAR’s energy-efficient Layer 1 blockchain, which is purpose-built for AI-era applications. By providing secure, compliant exposure to staking yields, it lowers the barrier for broader participation.

Such a move could have ripple effects across the entire AI crypto sector, potentially setting the stage for further innovation and institutional inflows. This placed NEAR among the coins to perform well in Q3. The overall performance of AI coins in the third quarter will be closely watched, as the sector continues to evolve and attract more attention from investors and institutions alike.