AI Is Quietly Becoming Crypto's Next Big Wave
Crypto runs in waves. Some change narratives and capital flows for years. The next wave looks clear: AI. Most will wait for headlines. Smart money doesn't.
This week, Grayscale signaled interest by allocating into two AI altcoins: $TAO and $NEAR. It didn't dominate the news cycle, but it matters. Big funds study long arcs. They place chips before consensus. If AI keeps compounding, these early moves may look obvious in hindsight.
TradFi Already Priced AI In
J.P. Morgan flagged 41 AI-linked stocks in the S&P 500. They make up 8% of the index but account for 47% of its total market cap - a new record. The twist isn't concentration at the top. It's that a single theme is driving that concentration.
Since ChatGPT launched in November 2022, those 41 names have driven 74% of the S&P 500's gains. TradFi already placed its bet on AI. Crypto is catching up.
Bluwhale: A Two-Sided AI Marketplace at Small-Cap Prices
Bluwhale is a $10 million market cap project building AI infrastructure from both ends: users and builders. It runs a marketplace of AI agents (think apps you pick for tasks) and a toolkit for developers: decentralized storage, datasets, and access to NVIDIA-grade compute.
What's different: Bluwhale can turn your mobile phone into an AI node. And unlike most AI projects that pick a single lane, Bluwhale is doing both: a user agent marketplace and a builder stack. Agent markets like Virtuals or Fetch trade at magnitudes higher. Some single agents on those platforms are worth more than Bluwhale's entire network.
Token Design: $BLUAI and $BLUP
$BLUAI is the network's native token. Users pay with it on the agent side; developers use it for datasets, compute, and model access on the builder side. $BLUP is a rewards and points system. Contribute data or compute, earn $BLUP, and build reputation inside the network. It's an AI + DePIN blend with two clear markets and a clear incentive loop.
Why AI + Crypto Work Together
- Data-rich networks: Blockchains track ownership, usage, and payments. AI learns from data. Put them together and you unlock new coordination methods and markets.
- Big growth expectations: Forecasts peg AI's impact adding trillions to global GDP by 2030. The crypto AI sector sits near ~$20B versus a ~$3T crypto market - still a small slice.
- Trust and audit: Blockchains bring provenance, audit trails, and shared rules. That helps with model audits, data rights, and payouts for data owners.
- Machine-to-machine payments: AI agents will transact on-chain. Protocols like Coinbase's x402 point to an open standard for internet-native payments between agents.
- Rising interest: Search data for "AI crypto" has climbed since late 2023, spiking around model releases. See Google Trends.
The Two AI Altcoins Drawing Institutional Attention
Bittensor ($TAO)
Grayscale's Decentralized AI Fund holds six assets, with $TAO as the largest weight at 33.38%. It also filed a Form 10 for a Bittensor Trust, aiming to make exposure more accessible through a traditional vehicle. Source: Grayscale.
Bittensor's network is organized in "subnets" - task-specific AI modules. Each new subnet can improve collective value by adding capacity, specialization, and competition. Several subnets look underpriced relative to activity, including Ridges (SN 62) and Gradients (SN 56). Recent quotes put $TAO near $283 with an ATH of $757; some investors view prices under $300 as attractive versus prior highs. Always assess your own risk.
Near Protocol ($NEAR)
$NEAR is the second anchor in Grayscale's Decentralized AI Fund at 27.49%, and it has its own trust product. NEAR positions itself as the "execution layer for the AI economy," pushing decentralized AI that gives users control rather than centralizing it.
Usage is picking up. NEAR "intents" - simple goal-based requests like "send this" or "swap that" - crossed $5B in all-time volume and moved to $6B a week later. Current quotes put $NEAR at $1.86 with an infinite supply and a ~$2.3B market cap. There's room to grow if usage keeps climbing.
What to Watch Next
- Institutional ramps: More filings, trusts, and index products tied to AI crypto.
- Real usage: NEAR intents volume, Bittensor subnet revenues, and agent-market transactions on Bluwhale.
- Compute supply: DePIN networks that expand accessible compute and storage for AI builders.
- Rules and audits: Clear standards for data provenance, model audits, and on-chain payouts.
- Token design: Utility, emissions, and revenue share that tie usage to value without overhang.
If you work in finance and want practical AI resources, here's a curated list of tools worth exploring: AI tools for finance. For structured upskilling, browse the latest programs: Latest AI courses.
Disclaimer
This content is for education and entertainment only and is not financial advice. Digital assets are volatile and carry risk. Do your own research and assess your risk tolerance before investing.
Sponsored disclosure: This article has been sponsored by Bluwhale.
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