Posted: December 20, 2024

• VIRTUAL is emerging as a strong contender against altcoins and meme tokens
• Altcoin may be quickly positioning it at the forefront of investor portfolios

Just two months shy of its first anniversary, Virtuals Protocol [VIRTUAL] has skyrocketed from its ICO price of $0.04977 to $2.56 (At the time of writing). Over the last 30 days, VIRTUAL has surged by nearly 500%, rocketing to the top of the gainers’ charts, even outpacing the industry giants.

Clearly, in a market full of uncertainty, low-cap gems like VIRTUAL are showing their strength, riding the momentum of the “Trump pump”. While this explosive growth signals massive potential, does it also hint at an underlying shift in the market?

Could we be witnessing the rise of coins like VIRTUAL as legitimate “low-risk” investments for those looking to play it safe in a volatile environment?

A new era for crypto investment is just around the corner

AI-based tokens may not be new to the market, but their explosive growth this year is impossible to ignore. One of the most striking trends is the clear shift in capital from Bitcoin into NEAR, the leading AI token.

This shift is visible on the daily chart, where Bitcoin’s pullback after reaching its historic ATH—signaling investor caution over a potentially overheated market—sparked a surge of capital into NEAR. 

The result? Nearly 10% in daily gains, with four consecutive green candlesticks pushing the token above $7 for the first time since March.

However, the real surprise came from VIRTUAL, which surpassed the $1-mark in just under a week, driven by impressive 30% daily gains. 

This suggested that while AI-based tokens are often linked to tech stocks, they may be carving out their own niche, emerging as a potential “hedge” in an increasingly volatile, risk-laden market.

For meme-based tokens, this could be a red flag. Their inherent volatility has sparked negative sentiment among retail buyers, especially as investors increasingly seek stability in these unpredictable times.

Meanwhile, top altcoins are becoming more “centralized,” with a smaller group of investors holding a significant portion of the supply. This has raised concerns about market manipulation.

In this shifting landscape, both low and high-cap AI-based tokens seem to be emerging as a more stable and promising alternative – Offering a safer haven for those looking to diversify their portfolios.

For long-term growth, investors typically seek a few key conditions. Chief among them are strong fundamentals, supported by a combination of both internal and external factors.

Internally, VIRTUAL has seen a surge in accumulation from both whales and retail investors, propelling the token to break through two major resistance levels. 

What’s even more striking is the surge in its Open Interest (OI) in the perp market, with the same recently hitting $111 million. This aligned perfectly with VIRTUAL hitting a new all-time high of $3.29 on 16 December  –  A feat that even XRP has struggled to match.

Looking ahead, VIRTUAL may be poised for even greater gains in the coming year. Its rising trading activity, combined with growing external factors such as the increasing volatility in memecoins and altcoins, positions AI-based tokens like VIRTUAL as a promising alternative.

Read Virtual Protocol [VIRTUAL] Price Prediction 2024-2025

So, in a market where Bitcoin’s volatility is constantly in play, HODLing and investing in these tokens is increasingly becoming the smart, logical choice for investors.