- Ethereum, XRP and Artificial Intelligence tokens NEAR, Internet Computer and Render are rallying on Wednesday.
- Bitcoin eyes return to $100,000 milestone, fueling optimism among crypto traders as market gears for Donald Trump’s inauguration.
- Experts at K33 research compare the AI token narrative to the DeFi summer of 2020 and identify DeFAI as a promising sector in 2025.
Bitcoin (BTC) eyes a return to the $100,000 level, catalyzing a rally among top altcoins and the Artificial Intelligence (AI) category of tokens. The crypto market capitalization increased over 2% in the last 24 hours, CoinGecko data shows.
Ethereum (ETH) rallied 4% on Wednesday, alongside XRP’s nearly 9% gain at the time of writing. The top three tokens from the AI category, Near Protocol (NEAR), Internet Computer Protocol (ICP) and Render (RNDR) yielded positive returns for traders on Wednesday.
Ethereum, XRP and AI tokens to watch for Trump rally
President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration is a key event for crypto traders since the incoming President is labeled the first “Crypto President.” Bitcoin broke above the $70,000 resistance on election day and rallied to its new all-time high above $108,000, in what is being referred to as the “Trump effect.”
As Bitcoin looks to return to the $100,000 milestone, there is widespread optimism among crypto traders. Ethereum, XRP, NEAR, ICP and RNDR lead the altcoin rally with gains on Wednesday.
The AI token category is gaining relevance with the emergence of a new narrative, DeFAI. Tokens and protocols positioned in the DeFi sector that are building AI capabilities or utility in their projects are part of this narrative.
Analysts at K33 research discussed the emergence of the DeFAI sector in their latest report titled DeFAI: When DeFi meets AI, which was published early on Wednesday.
DeFi, AI and DeFAI market capitalization | Source: K33 Research
NEAR, ICP and RNDR gained between 4% and 6% on Wednesday, on Binance.
In a nod to the Crypto AI and DeFAI narrative, Bobby Ong, COO and co-founder of CoinGecko, told FXStreet:
“2024 was a testament to the meaningful progress crypto has made in achieving TradFi and institutional recognition. On the other hand, on-chain activity also gathered momentum amid heated competition amongst different blockchain ecosystems for users and developers, with memecoins and Crypto x AI dominating discourse.”
“After the past few challenging years, we look forward to the continued bull market in 2025!,” he added.
Information on these pages contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Markets and instruments profiled on this page are for informational purposes only and should not in any way come across as a recommendation to buy or sell in these assets. You should do your own thorough research before making any investment decisions. FXStreet does not in any way guarantee that this information is free from mistakes, errors, or material misstatements. It also does not guarantee that this information is of a timely nature. Investing in Open Markets involves a great deal of risk, including the loss of all or a portion of your investment, as well as emotional distress. All risks, losses and costs associated with investing, including total loss of principal, are your responsibility. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of FXStreet nor its advertisers. The author will not be held responsible for information that is found at the end of links posted on this page.
If not otherwise explicitly mentioned in the body of the article, at the time of writing, the author has no position in any stock mentioned in this article and no business relationship with any company mentioned. The author has not received compensation for writing this article, other than from FXStreet.
FXStreet and the author do not provide personalized recommendations. The author makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of this information. FXStreet and the author will not be liable for any errors, omissions or any losses, injuries or damages arising from this information and its display or use. Errors and omissions excepted.
The author and FXStreet are not registered investment advisors and nothing in this article is intended to be investment advice.
Recommended Content
Editors’ Picks

Top 3 gainers Supra, Cosmos Hub, EOS: Supra leads recovery after Trump’s tariffs announcement
Supra’s 25% surge on Friday calls attention to lesser-known cryptocurrencies as Bitcoin, Ethereum and XRP struggle. Cosmos Hub remains range-bound while bulls focus on a potential inverse head-and-shoulders pattern breakout.

Bitcoin Weekly Forecast: Tariff ‘Liberation Day’ sparks liquidation in crypto market
Bitcoin price remains under selling pressure around $82,000 on Friday after failing to close above key resistance earlier this week. Donald Trump’s tariff announcement on Wednesday swept $200 billion from total crypto market capitalization and triggered a wave of liquidations.

Can Maker break $1,450 hurdle as whales launch buying spree?
Maker is back above $1,300 on Friday after extending its lower leg to $1,231 the previous day. MKR’s rebound has erased the drawdown that followed United States President Donald Trump’s ‘Liberaton Day’ tariffs on Wednesday, which targeted 100 countries.

Gold shines in Q1 while Bitcoin stumbles
Gold gains nearly 20%, reaching a peak of $3,167, while Bitcoin nosedives nearly 12%, reaching a low of $76,606, in Q1 2025. In Q1, the World Gold ETF's net inflows totalled 155 tonnes, while the Bitcoin spot ETF showed a net inflow of near $1 billion.

Bitcoin Weekly Forecast: Tariff ‘Liberation Day’ sparks liquidation in crypto market
Bitcoin (BTC) price remains under selling pressure and trades near $84,000 when writing on Friday after a rejection from a key resistance level earlier this week.

The Best brokers to trade EUR/USD
SPONSORED Discover the top brokers for trading EUR/USD in 2025. Our list features brokers with competitive spreads, fast execution, and powerful platforms. Whether you're a beginner or an expert, find the right partner to navigate the dynamic Forex market.