The post Virtuals Protocol Jumps 22% Today, AI Marketplace Spark Rally appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Virtuals Protocol (VIRTUAL) surprised the crypto market today with a sharp 22.3% price jump, lifting its weekly gains close to 60% and placing it among today’s top performers. 

The sudden rally is fueled by upcoming product launches, expanding real-world use cases, and a strong rise in trading activity.

Upcoming AI Agent Marketplace Launch 

The biggest reason behind VIRTUAL’s rally is excitement around its decentralized AI agent marketplace, set to launch on January 15. This platform will allow users to deploy, manage, and earn from autonomous AI agents.

Unlike many AI projects that remain theoretical, Virtuals Protocol is already generating real revenue. 

Meanwhile, the daily protocol earnings have reached around $26,000, while active DEX users have rebounded to nearly 3,700.

Lately, AI-linked crypto projects have helped push VIRTUAL and other tokens, such as RENDER, NEAR, TAO, and FET, posting double-digit gains this week.

OpenMind AGI Partnership Boosts Credibility

Another major factor lifting sentiment is Virtuals Protocol’s partnership with robotics firm OpenMind AGI. Recent demonstrations showed AI agents powered by Virtuals Protocol controlling physical robots to perform DeFi-related tasks, such as cross-chain USDC transfers.

While this partnership may not immediately boost revenue, it adds strong credibility. It shows how Virtual Protocol could connect blockchain, AI, and real-world automation.

Trading Volume Surges as Buyers Step In

VIRTUAL’s price increase is backed by strong market activity. VIRTUAL’s 24-hour trading volume jumped nearly 136% to around $338 million, showing clear buyer interest rather than thin trading.

Over the past week, VIRTUAL has outperformed many larger tokens, gaining more than 60% while the overall market stayed relatively calm.

VIRTUAL Token Price Outlook

After dropping from its October high of $1.89, VIRTUAL was trading inside a descending channel for several weeks. That pattern has now broken, with price moving above the channel’s upper trendline, a classic bullish signal. 

Meanwhile, rising trading volume confirms that the breakout is backed by strong buying interest.

According to Coinpedia analysts, the immediate resistance stands near $1.47. This level marks a previous rejection zone and could slow the price in the short term. However, a clear daily close above $1.47 may trigger a stronger upside move, opening the path toward the $1.80–$1.85 range.

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Filed under: Bitcoin - @ January 5, 2026 1:21 pm