Could Buying an AI Crypto Today Set You Up for Life?
Key Points
Amidst a broader crypto market sell-off, artificial intelligence (AI) cryptos have been a pocket of strength in 2026.
Some AI cryptos are up more than 850% this year, proof of their ability to skyrocket in value.
While AI cryptos can outperform over the short term, there is no evidence yet of their ability to maintain gains over the long term.
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Investor enthusiasm for all things AI-related shows no signs of slowing. As a result, Anthropic and OpenAI are lining up to be two of the most highly anticipated IPOs ever. Everyone, it seems, wants to own a piece of the expanding AI pie.
That's what has me thinking that AI cryptocurrencies could go absolutely ballistic later this year. Several AI cryptos are already up big in 2026 -- and that's despite a broader crypto market sell-off. Just imagine what might happen once investors start bidding up the prices of Anthropic and OpenAI in the equity market.
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Which AI crypto to buy?
The good news, if you're thinking about investing in AI cryptos, is that there are plenty of potential prospects. The two big names to watch are Bittensor (CRYPTO: TAO) and NEAR Protocol (CRYPTO: NEAR). Both have market caps in excess of $2 billion and are Layer-1 blockchain networks, making them potential building blocks for everything being built in AI.
Image source: Getty Images.
After that, there's a steep drop-off in market cap, and the risk you'll take on will increase significantly. For example, you could invest in Venice Token (CRYPTO: VVV), a super-hot play on decentralized AI that's up 850% this year. Or, you could invest in Siren (CRYPTO: SIREN), a super-speculative play on agentic AI that's up 1,400% year to date.
The higher the risk, the higher the reward. If these AI crypto tokens are capable of maintaining those gains for an extended period of time, it's conceivable that they could set you up for life.
Risks of investing in AI cryptos
But here's the thing: AI cryptos are rarely able to maintain their blistering performance over an extended period of time. Several high-profile AI cryptos of the past few years have already fallen by the wayside.
Take Artificial Superintelligence Alliance (CRYPTO: FET), the crypto token formerly known as Fetch. It's down 94% from its all-time high in 2024. And does anyone still remember Virtuals Protocol (CRYPTO: VIRTUAL), which stormed onto the scene in late 2024 and early 2025? It's now down 90% since then.
Even the so-called "best-in-class" AI cryptos have shown signs of weakness. Bittensor may be a highly diversified bet on the future of decentralized AI, but that hasn't saved its price from cratering. It's down a head-spinning 75% from its all-time high in 2024.
Unfortunately, the field of AI is just so fast-moving that it's almost impossible for any AI crypto to maintain its momentum for long. There has yet to be an AI crypto that you can buy and hold for the long haul. Until that happens, don't expect any investment in an AI crypto to set you up for life.
Should you buy stock in Bittensor right now?
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Dominic Basulto has positions in Fetch. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Bittensor, Fetch, and NEAR Protocol. The Motley Fool recommends Venice Token. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
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