- Bittensor’s native token TAO surged 18% to $490.
- Among a broad market rally for AI-related projects, this altcoin outperformed many of the top gainers.
- Bulls are eyeing a break above $500.
Bittensor’s TAO token has seen a substantial rally, climbing into double digits and approaching the key psychological level of $500.
At the time of writing, TAO reached an intraday high near $490.
The move put TAO at the top of the daily gainers list, even outpacing privacy-focused tokens such as Zcash, which itself rose about 15% over the past 24 hours.
ETP Hype and AI Momentum Help Price Discovery
The latest catalyst for TAO’s rise traces directly to institutional developments.
Analysts are increasingly assessing whether decentralized AI projects can grow into major players in the crypto ecosystem, potentially filling a role similar to how Nvidia dominates AI infrastructure in traditional markets.
Much of TAO’s recent gains followed the October 29 announcement of the world’s first staking-enabled Bittensor exchange-traded product (ETP).
Deutsche Digital Assets and Safello launched the ETP, arriving as renewed excitement around digital asset investment products has re-emerged.
The combination of Bittensor’s expanding network and the ETP launch appears well-timed, contributing to upward pressure on TAO’s price.
The product, custodied by BitGo Europe and domiciled in Liechtenstein, bridges traditional finance and decentralized AI and could unlock substantial European institutional capital that was previously sidelined by regulatory hurdles.
What’s Next for TAO’s Price?
The outlook for TAO is predominantly bullish, though the token remains subject to the inherent volatility of crypto markets and broader macroeconomic headwinds in the short term.
Consistent daily closes above $500 could act as a springboard toward $700.
That level corresponds to highs from December 2024, and a sustained move above it would have bulls targeting the token’s all-time high.
TAO’s record high stands at $767, reached in March 2024.
Crypto analyst Dread Bongo shared a bullish perspective on the token, noting several positive technical and fundamental drivers.
This top band on $TAO should act like a magnet here..
– Broken out of year long downtrend
– First ever #Bittensor Halving in 40 days
– Subnet products going live
– Major ecosystem upgrades coming
– Alpha’s bottomed out
– Huge subnet partnerships and developmentsPeople are now… pic.twitter.com/rH9hJwPGcY
— ＤＲＥＡＤ ＢＯＮＧＯ (@DreadBong0) October 31, 2025
“The Nvidia of Crypto”?
Data from CoinGecko shows the overall AI-token category slipped slightly, with total market capitalization down about 1.2%.
Top AI-related cryptocurrencies such as NEAR Protocol, Internet Computer, Story, and Render logged 24-hour gains in the 2–4% range.
By contrast, Bittensor (TAO) outperformed the group, surging roughly 18% over the past day and maintaining its position as the largest AI-focused token by market cap, around $469 million.
Bittensor’s rally coincides with renewed investor enthusiasm for AI following recent developments from major tech companies like Nvidia and Microsoft, which have driven interest in AI-focused assets across markets.
Additionally, institutional validation from the ETP, increased whale accumulation, and upcoming protocol events such as halving are all potential catalysts that market participants are watching closely.
Investors should remain mindful of standard crypto risks, including price volatility and changing macro conditions, while monitoring on-chain activity and institutional flows for further signals about TAO’s trajectory.