AI Crypto Sector Soars Past $41 Billion: TAO, FET, NEAR, ICP, RENDER Lead Gains

• The AI crypto sector soared past a $41 billion market cap as Bitcoin eyes $105,000.
• Major tokens like TAO, FET, NEAR, ICP, and RENDER posting double-digit weekly gains.
• TAO’s long-term growth potential and NEAR’s institutional ETF momentum showcase large-scale adoption.

The artificial intelligence (AI) crypto sector has posted significant gains, with the total market cap for AI-linked altcoins soaring past $41 billion. This surge is largely driven by strong price increases in top tokens such as Bittensor (TAO), Artificial Superintelligence Alliance (FET), Near Protocol (NEAR), Internet Computer (ICP), and Render (RENDER). 

This rise in AI altcoins occurs as Bitcoin eyes a breakout above the $105,000 mark, investor appetite for AI-infused blockchain projects is rapidly gaining momentum–and with good reason.

TAO (Bittensor): Analyst Sees Path to $62,500 by 2030

TAO has been a standout performer, rising 3.3% in the last day and nearly 27% over the past week. At a major crypto summit in Austin, Contango Digital founder Mike Grantis made a bold prediction that TAO could trade above $62,500 by 2030. Currently trading around $467, this marks a gain of more than 13,000%.

Grantis’s reasoning is compelling: unlike Bitcoin, which rose largely on a store-of-value narrative, Bittensor is building a decentralized network that directly incentivizes machine learning. 

With hundreds of functioning AI subnets, growing developer adoption, and real-world utility, some believe TAO has the kind of long-term growth runway that could dwarf earlier crypto cycles.

FET (Artificial Superintelligence Alliance): Bullish Pennant Hints at Breakout

FET jumped nearly 9% in 24 hours and now trades at $0.8786. Technical indicators suggest that the long-term uptrend is intact, with the price consolidating inside a bullish pennant pattern. 

Analyst Crypto Kindle believes that once the token breaks above its $1.5 monthly resistance, it could either backtest at $0.80 or enter a full-blown altseason rally toward its previous all-time highs.

NEAR Protocol (NEAR): Institutional Interest Grows with ETF Filing, AI Focus

Near Protocol (NEAR) surged more than 5% to reach $3.23. A significant driver for NEAR was the May 7th news that Bitwise filed for a spot NEAR ETF with the SEC. This marks the first such ETF filing for a Layer 1 blockchain after Ethereum and Solana, immediately positioning NEAR as a contender for serious institutional inflows.

This development, coupled with NEAR’s latest protocol upgrade (V77) and the introduction of Chain Signatures (which eliminate the need for wrapped tokens), underscores its technical advancements. NEAR’s presence at AI-focused conferences further solidifies its strategy to become a Layer 1 blockchain anchoring AI activity on-chain. 

Proof of this AI integration focus includes over 100 developers recently building functioning AI agents on NEAR at a San Francisco hackathon.

ICP (Internet Computer): Analyst Eyes Breakout from Accumulation Zone

Internet Computer Protocol (ICP) is nearing the $6 threshold after a 6.25% gain. The 20-day EMA at $5.3 stands as the nearest support for the cryptocurrency.

According to analyst Crypto Patel, this level could be the final stage in its accumulation zone. A confirmed breakout above $7.16 could put $15–$18 on the radar, with long-term potential stretching to $79 in a full bull run.

RENDER (RENDER): Decentralized GPU Power Fuels Continued Growth

RENDER, which provides decentralized GPU rendering for AI and metaverse projects, has also seen a 6.39% jump to $5.35. 

With RSI at 65.70, it’s nearing overbought territory–but momentum remains strong. The token’s 20-day EMA of $4.75 now acts as support, and analysts see a push to $8.30 as very much in play.