Recently, the topic of AI cryptocurrencies has been heating up. In fact, their market capitalization has grown to about $30.6 billion.

Honestly, looking at the AI agent boom from the second half of 2024, it's clear that this is not just speculation; serious institutional investors are starting to enter. Major asset management firms are launching dedicated funds, and large venture capital firms are listing it as a key trend for 2026. This means that the AI × blockchain field is becoming a well-established investment category.

The basic value propositions of AI cryptocurrencies are threefold. First, decentralized GPU computing. Concentration of computing resources in large companies like NVIDIA and Amazon is quite a problem. Using blockchain, idle GPUs worldwide can be networked. Next, data transparency. If the origin and usage history of data used for AI training can be recorded on the chain, it can simultaneously prevent tampering and protect creators' rights. Lastly, AI decentralization. The era is approaching where AI models, currently monopolized by major tech companies, are developed and provided in a decentralized manner on the blockchain.

This field is actually divided into four categories. Decentralized AI infrastructure (GPU-related), AI agents, data storage and indexing, and AI intellectual property management. Each is forming a market worth billions of dollars.

AI agent-related projects are particularly interesting. Traditional AI (like ChatGPT) only responds to questions, but AI agents can judge and act on their own. They can automatically buy when Bitcoin drops below $100k, without human instructions. In a case announced by the CEO of a major exchange, AI bots successfully traded cryptocurrencies with each other. This is a major breakthrough, especially since AI cannot hold bank accounts.

However, there are many caution points. Looking at the DeepSeek shock in January 2025, it’s clear that AI cryptocurrencies are more closely linked to trends in the AI industry than traditional crypto assets. When Chinese companies released low-cost, high-performance AI, related stocks were sold off en masse. Also, there was an incident where an AI agent mistakenly transferred the entire amount of a $250k meme coin. Security design in this area is still insufficient in many cases.

Notable AI cryptocurrencies include RENDER (decentralized GPU), NEAR (AI-compatible Layer 1), VIRTUAL (AI agent issuance platform), TAO (decentralized AI learning), FIL (decentralized storage), GRT (blockchain data indexing), FET (integrated AI × blockchain), AKT (decentralized cloud), WLD (biometric authentication × AI), and COAI (on-chain AI infrastructure).

They are also becoming available on domestic exchanges. RENDER, NEAR, FIL, GRT, and WLD can be purchased in Japanese yen on major domestic exchanges. According to the latest data, RENDER is at $1.88, NEAR at $1.38, FIL at $0.86, GRT at $0.02, and WLD at $0.29.

However, many projects in this field still lack substance. Some only list AI terminology in their white papers without actual implementation. When investing, it’s crucial to verify the development team's track record, development activity on GitHub, and whether operational products exist. Regulatory frameworks are still unclear.

If you’re considering investing in AI cryptocurrencies, the key is to carefully research each project’s technical reality and diversify within your available funds. As more tokens are handled on domestic exchanges, access is improving. If you're interested, checking the latest market and project info on platforms like Gate.io might be a good idea.