Crypto Market Stalls as Bitcoin Holds Range While AI Tokens Surge

Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) entered the weekend with limited price movement as the broader crypto market traded sideways. BTC remained stuck between $76,100 and $78,000 over the past four days, while ETH also struggled to break out, signaling reduced volatility across major digital assets.

Despite the calm in large-cap cryptocurrencies, speculative trading activity shifted toward select altcoins, particularly AI-focused tokens. Near Protocol (NEAR) jumped 28.5% in the last 24 hours, while Fetch.ai (FET) gained 11.4%, highlighting renewed investor appetite for artificial intelligence-related crypto projects.

At the same time, privacy coins such as Dash (DASH), Zcash (ZEC), and Monero (XMR) experienced strong selling pressure after earlier weekly gains, showing that sector rotation remains active within the crypto market.

Traditional financial markets also influenced sentiment. Brent crude oil fell to $102 per barrel from $112 earlier in the week amid speculation surrounding a possible peace agreement between Iran and the United States. Lower oil prices boosted investor confidence, helping the Dow Jones Industrial Average close at a record high. Meanwhile, the Nasdaq 100 and S&P 500 rebounded sharply from recent lows, reinforcing a broader risk-on market environment.

In crypto derivatives, futures trading volume increased 1% to $160 billion, while total open interest stayed near $128 billion. Liquidations dropped 26% to $200 million, suggesting calmer market conditions with less forced selling.

NEAR remained the standout performer as futures open interest surged to a record 282.53 million tokens. Analysts noted positive cumulative volume delta and mildly positive funding rates, indicating aggressive buying activity without signs of excessive leverage. TRX and LINK also showed bullish derivatives positioning.

Meanwhile, BTC and ETH markets stayed relatively quiet, with declining implied volatility reflecting continued options-selling strategies. On Deribit, traders heavily favored protective put options on both bitcoin and ether, signaling cautious sentiment despite the broader market recovery.

Elsewhere, HyperLiquid’s HYPE token continued its impressive rally, surging roughly 60% since Tuesday and reaching a new all-time high following increased institutional participation and ETF-driven momentum.