Top AI Coins Forecast: Bittensor, Near Protocol gain as Wintermute plans $1B AI bet

Source Fxstreet
  • Wintermute plans to invest $1 billion over the next five years in high-frequency trading and AI data centers.
  • Bittensor edges higher for a second consecutive day, supported by a neutral-to-bullish MACD signal.
  • Near Protocol advances, building on support at $1.60, but the upside remains capped below key moving averages.

Wintermute, a London-based algorithmic trading company and liquidity provider, is planning to invest roughly $1 billion in high-frequency trading and Artificial Intelligence (AI) data centers over the next five years.

Meanwhile, crypto tokens in the AI sector, including Bittensor (TAO) and Near Protocol (NEAR), are showing mild recovery signs at the time of writing on Wednesday.

Wintermute eyes diversification in traditional markets

Wintermute’s $1 billion bet on AI data centers and high-frequency trading environments signals the firm’s ambition to diversify its services across equities, commodities and foreign exchange, a Bloomberg report highlighted.

The investment expected over the next five years will bring Wintermute into direct competition with renowned firms such as Jane Street Group and Citadel Securities.

"We are now going up against firms that have spent decades optimizing their technology and infrastructure for these markets, so obviously the level of investment required is significant," Evgeny Gaevoy, founder and CEO, said in an interview with Bloomberg.

Wintermute expects to finance the investment with retained earnings. Gaevoy said that the privately held company was profitable in 2025 and is set to do the same this year.

The broader cryptocurrency market is stuck in a bearish trend, with Bitcoin trading around $64,000, far from the record high of $126,200. Altcoins mirror Bitcoin’s lethargic price action, as Ethereum (ETH) hovers around $1,900 and Ripple (XRP) at $1.02.

Meanwhile, top AI coins are exhibiting signs of a short-term recovery led by Bittensor above $200 and Near Protocol roughly at $1.65.

Technical analysis: Bittensor builds momentum

Bittensor trades at $203 and remains in a bearish near-term structure as it holds below the 50-day, 100-day, and 200-day Exponential Moving Averages (EMAs). The spot price is also contained under the upper Bollinger Band at $205 and remains well beneath the descending trendline reference at $243, suggesting rallies are still constrained despite a constructive backdrop in momentum, with the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) above the zero line and the Relative Strength Index (RSI) around 55.

TAO/USDT daily chart

Immediate resistance aligns at the upper Bollinger Band near $205, coinciding with the 50-day EMA. A daily close above this cluster would be needed to ease selling pressure and open the way toward the 100-day EMA at $220 and the 200-day EMA at $239, ahead of the broader bearish trendline break level at $243. On the flip side, initial support emerges at the Bollinger middle band around $195, with stronger demand expected near the lower band at $186, where buyers may attempt to defend the lower edge of the current volatility envelope.

Near Protocol bulls attempt breakout

NEAR trades roughly at $1.65, keeping a bearish near-term bias as it holds beneath a dense cluster of major moving averages, suggesting rallies are likely to be capped while the price remains below this band.

Momentum is mixed, with the MACD indicator turning marginally positive and hinting at a tentative recovery, but the RSI near 42 reinforces that directional pressure still favors sellers rather than a sustained bullish reversal.

NEAR/USDT daily chart

Initial structural support is seen around the downward-sloping trendline break level at $1.59, where buyers could attempt to defend the recent base if selling resumes. On the topside, a move higher would first face resistance at the 200-day EMA at $1.78, followed by the 50-day and 100-day EMAs at $1.80. Only a decisive daily close above this stacked resistance zone would start to weaken the current bearish framework and open the way for a more constructive medium-term tone.

(The technical analysis of this story was written with the help of an AI tool. Know more.)

Bitcoin, altcoins, stablecoins FAQs

Bitcoin is the largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, a virtual currency designed to serve as money. This form of payment cannot be controlled by any one person, group, or entity, which eliminates the need for third-party participation during financial transactions.

Altcoins are any cryptocurrency apart from Bitcoin, but some also regard Ethereum as a non-altcoin because it is from these two cryptocurrencies that forking happens. If this is true, then Litecoin is the first altcoin, forked from the Bitcoin protocol and, therefore, an “improved” version of it.

Stablecoins are cryptocurrencies designed to have a stable price, with their value backed by a reserve of the asset it represents. To achieve this, the value of any one stablecoin is pegged to a commodity or financial instrument, such as the US Dollar (USD), with its supply regulated by an algorithm or demand. The main goal of stablecoins is to provide an on/off-ramp for investors willing to trade and invest in cryptocurrencies. Stablecoins also allow investors to store value since cryptocurrencies, in general, are subject to volatility.

Bitcoin dominance is the ratio of Bitcoin's market capitalization to the total market capitalization of all cryptocurrencies combined. It provides a clear picture of Bitcoin’s interest among investors. A high BTC dominance typically happens before and during a bull run, in which investors resort to investing in relatively stable and high market capitalization cryptocurrency like Bitcoin. A drop in BTC dominance usually means that investors are moving their capital and/or profits to altcoins in a quest for higher returns, which usually triggers an explosion of altcoin rallies.

Disclaimer: For information purposes only. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
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