Bittensor (TAO) Surges as Upbit Listing Drives Market Share Gains

• Bittensor's TAO token surged nearly 8% following its listing on Upbit on February 16, 2026.
• The listing introduced three trading pairs: TAO/KRW, TAO/BTC, and TAO/USDT, with 90-minute deposit access and volatility controls in place.
• Analysts attribute the rise in TAO to growing institutional interest in decentralized AI infrastructure and the integration of blockchain with AI technologies.

Bittensor's TAO token was listed on Upbit, South Korea's largest cryptocurrency exchange, on February 16, 2026. The listing brought TAO/KRW, TAO/BTC, and TAO/USDT trading pairs, offering Korean investors direct access to the token. This move aimed to enhance TAO's liquidity and visibility in the market.

The listing introduced measures to manage volatility, including restrictions on buy orders for the first five minutes and limit orders for the first two hours. These steps were intended to stabilize trading activity and prevent imbalances. TAO's price surged to $194.04, with its market cap reaching $1.86 billion.

Bittensor’s TAO token powers a decentralized AI model marketplace where participants collaborate to train AI models and are rewarded with TAO tokens for their contributions. The platform's staking APY of 15% suggests long-term compounding potential for investors. Upbit’s decision to list TAO reflects growing institutional and retail interest in AI and blockchain convergence, and aims to provide Korean investors with direct access to the token.

What Drives TAO's Price Movement?

TAO's price surged nearly 8% following its listing on Upbit, outperforming the broader crypto market. This surge was driven by the introduction of new trading pairs and temporary safeguards to manage initial liquidity and volatility. The listing triggered a liquidity grab as traders rushed to access the new Korean market.

However, the price rally appeared to be driven by liquidity positioning rather than sustained demand. The move lacked strong institutional support, with futures open interest declining and trading volume spiking before stabilizing. This indicates weak conviction in the price movement and raises questions about whether the surge was driven by genuine adoption or a short-term repricing event.

What Is the Long-Term Outlook for TAO?

Analysts predict potential price reversion to $300 if the listing-driven momentum continues. However, the token's long-term success will depend on sustained trading volume and buyer interest. Bittensor is expanding its subnets to 256 to enhance scalability and integration with onchain AI and stablecoins, positioning itself for potential institutional adoption and broader regulatory acceptance.

The AI sector experienced an 8.3% week-over-week market cap increase, driven largely by TAO’s 21% surge following its Upbit listing. This growth reflects the broader trend of AI-focused cryptocurrencies gaining traction in Asian markets. Institutional interest is also rising, with Grayscale and Bitwise filing for spot TAO ETFs, signaling regulatory progress and broader adoption.

TAO's circulating supply is 9.6 million tokens, while its total supply is 21 million, meaning a large portion of its potential value is not yet circulating. This creates a situation where new demand can significantly influence the price. The future of TAO's price will depend on sustained volume and broader market conditions, as well as the effectiveness of Upbit's volatility management measures.