15 Must-Follow AI Tokens in 2024-2025: A Complete Overview

AI Redefines the Cryptocurrency Market

Since the ChatGPT boom, artificial intelligence has gradually integrated into all technological sectors, including the cryptocurrency universe. The AI sector of the crypto industry reached a market capitalization of $6.3 billion in October 2023, and this momentum continues to accelerate. AI tokens combine the power of blockchains with machine learning capabilities, opening unprecedented possibilities for solving complex problems.

Understanding AI Tokens: Fundamentals and Utility

AI-based cryptocurrencies utilize artificial intelligence and machine learning in a structured manner. These tokens can enhance protocol security, optimize scalability, transform user experience, or even automate critical processes within decentralized ecosystems.

Beyond simple utility tokens, AI tokens power concrete applications: text and image generation, autonomous investment protocols, decentralized trading services, and much more. Many are built on smart standards (ERC-20 on Ethereum notably), ensuring their interoperability. The logical evolution shows that AI will continue to merge with Web3 products, including metaverses and decentralized applications.

The 15 AI Projects to Watch Closely

1. The Graph (GRT) - The Leader by Market Cap

Current Market Cap: $392.00M

The Graph positions itself as the major data indexing and querying protocol within the blockchain ecosystem. Its revolutionary approach organizes massive blockchain data into manageable subgraphs, creating an accessible data infrastructure for developers.

Since April 2023, over 3,000 subgraphs have been deployed by a community of thousands of developers. These graphs now power hundreds of DApps and decentralized services. GRT is much more than a simple token; it is the critical infrastructure enabling the Web3 ecosystem to operate efficiently.

2. Fetch.ai (FET) - The Decentralized Digital Economy

Current Market Cap: $474.20M

Fetch.ai offers an open-source platform aimed at building a new digital economy through autonomous AI-powered agents. These agents can perform complex tasks: in-depth analysis, intelligent decision-making, and sophisticated predictive modeling.

The Fetch.ai network functions as a collaborative ecosystem where bots and tools communicate to solve problems. The FET token serves as the central exchange mechanism within this decentralized ecosystem, facilitating transactions between agents.

3. Injective (INJ) - The Blockchain Dedicated to Finance

Current Market Cap: $458.70M

Injective presents itself as “the blockchain built for finance.” It allows developers to create sophisticated Web3 applications on an open and interoperable layer 1. Its major advantage: ready-to-use modules offering unprecedented flexibility.

This feature has made Injective the preferred choice for developers creating innovative decentralized exchanges. INJ, the native token, ensures community governance, validates transactions via staking, and rewards developers building on the protocol.

4. Render Token (RNDR) - The Revolutionary GPU Network

Current Market Cap: $920M (October 2023)

Render operates as a decentralized GPU network on Ethereum, creating a peer-to-peer marketplace for computing power. Artists pay in RNDR to access GPU resources, while node operators providing these resources receive rewards in tokens.

The escrow mechanism guarantees security: tokens remain locked until manual verification of the rendering work. Once confirmed, tokens are released to operators. This secure approach has established Render as a trusted solution for distributed rendering.

5. SingularityNET (AGIX) - The Decentralized AI Marketplace

Current Market Cap: $298M

SingularityNET creates an international marketplace where users and developers can buy, sell, build, and monetize AI-powered services. The platform democratizes access to AI tools: data models, intelligent applications, and specialized services.

AGIX facilitates payments across the ecosystem, functioning as the native currency of a global AI marketplace. Its importance lies in its ability to create economic incentives for AI developers and content creators.

6. Ocean Protocol (OCEAN) - Monetizing Private Data

Current Market Cap: $216.99M

Ocean Protocol, built on Ethereum, revolutionizes data exchange by enabling individuals and companies to monetize their information while preserving privacy. Data remains owned by the holders, who control its usage.

The OCEAN (ERC-20) token fuels the network, facilitating access for researchers, startups, and analysts to data. This approach combines blockchain transparency with personal data protection, creating a new economic model.

7. Oasis Network (ROSE) - Privacy-First Blockchain

Current Market Cap: $78.91M

Oasis Network stands out as a unified layer 1 blockchain centered on two pillars: absolute privacy and extreme scalability. It intelligently separates smart contract execution from the underlying consensus.

This architecture allows developers to create Web3 DApps that strictly respect data privacy. Oasis also offers very high throughput with minimal fees, making it ideal for sensitive applications requiring performance and security.

8. iExec RLC (RLC) - Decentralized Cloud Computing

Current Market Cap: $44.33M

iExec RLC transforms computing power into shared and monetized resources. Users connect their machines as iExec Workers, contributing to the network resources and earning RLC in return.

The platform supports various applications: AI, healthcare, 3D rendering, and financial services. It provides on-demand access to cloud resources, creating a decentralized marketplace where computing power owners offer their resources to those in need.

9. Phala Network (PHA) - Confidential AI Cloud

Current Market Cap: $28.20M

Phala Network positions itself as a decentralized alternative to cloud giants (Google Cloud, AWS). It enhances cloud computing with TEE (Trusted Execution Environments) integrated into CPUs.

Users deploy confidential smart contracts directly within secure enclaves, maintaining full ownership of their data. This approach redefines cloud computing for the Web3 era.

10. Numeraire (NMR) - AI-Powered Hedge Fund

Current Market Cap: $75.66M

Numerai, launched in 2015, pioneered the concept of an AI hedge fund. The Ethereum-based platform functions as a meta-market: aggregating predictions from thousands of data scientists and developers into a single “meta-model” to forecast market movements.

The NMR token acts as the staking currency within the ecosystem. Users stake their NMR on accurate predictions and receive token rewards for their correct analyses.

11. Artificial Liquid Intelligence (ALI) - Generate Smart AI Images

Current Market Cap: $19.31M

ALI powers Alethea’s AI image generator. The CharacterGPT protocol uses textual descriptions to create AI-based interactive characters, then allows generating NFTs from these creations.

An ERC-20 token on Ethereum, ALI offers users multiple utilities: content generation, economic incentives, transactions within the ecosystem, and progressive model improvements.

12. Covalent (CQT) - Cross-Chain Data Aggregator

Current Market Cap: $92.1M

Covalent aggregates data from multiple blockchains (Ethereum, Avalanche, Polygon…), providing developers with a single reliable source of information. DApps built on this data can solve critical issues in retail and finance.

Its API provides end-users with personalized analytics: historical and current investment performance, consistent and fast market data. Covalent turns blockchain data fragmentation into a competitive advantage.

13. Cortex (CTXC) - On-Chain AI Execution

Current Market Cap: $30.1M

Cortex offers a blockchain platform enabling direct upload and execution of AI models. Major innovation: before its launch, no known solution allowed on-chain machine learning execution. DApps had to rely on off-chain inference, compromising immutability.

Decentralized open-source platform, Cortex aims to democratize AI by allowing anyone to create intelligent applications using blockchain technology.

14. dKargo (DKA) - AI for Web3 Logistics

Current Market Cap: $101.5M

dKargo uses blockchain to address trust challenges in the fragmented logistics sector. By creating a collaborative logistics network based on technology, dKargo offers credible information and improves connections among dispersed actors.

A modest but ambitious project, dKargo could truly transform tomorrow’s logistics industry by integrating blockchain transparency and AI optimizations.

15. Hera Finance (HERA) - AI for DeFi Trading Optimization

Current Market Cap: $20M

Hera Finance uses the Pathfinder algorithm powered by machine learning to identify the most profitable trading paths on DEXs. The AI continuously analyzes prices, volumes, liquidity, and other crypto-dynamic indicators.

HERA, the governance token, allows users to participate in protocol decisions and shares revenue generated with holders, creating a participatory economy around trading optimization.

AI and Blockchain: An Inevitable Convergence

Artificial intelligence has found revolutionary applications within blockchain. The combination of AI with decentralized technologies creates powerful synergies: enhanced security, improved scalability, intelligent automation, and distributed value creation.

AI tokens are more than a speculative trend: they embody a structural evolution of the crypto ecosystem. As AI becomes ubiquitous and blockchain matures, their convergence accelerates. It is likely these two technologies will continue to come closer, creating a new class of decentralized applications otherwise impossible.

Key Points to Remember Before Investing

Although the AI crypto sector offers interesting opportunities, investing involves risks. Each project addresses different problems with distinct approaches. Before committing:

• Conduct your own research (DYOR)
• Evaluate the use case and addressable market
• Understand tokenomics and governance
• Accept that all cryptocurrencies carry risks, regardless of their underlying technology

Always proceed cautiously when deploying your funds in the crypto space.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best AI token to trade?
No AI token can be declared “best” universally. Each responds to specific needs and positions itself differently in the market. Effectiveness depends on your investment goals.

How many crypto-AI projects exist?
The number is considerable and continuously growing. Beyond the 15 presented here, many other emerging projects incorporate AI into their blockchain solutions.

How to trade AI tokens?
You can trade AI tokens on various exchanges, including centralized exchanges and DEXs. AI also enables the emergence of sophisticated trading bots reacting faster than humans and executing complex strategies.

What is the difference between an AI token and a regular token?
AI tokens structurally integrate machine learning or AI into their protocol, enhancing key aspects like security, governance, or efficiency. Regular tokens do not benefit from these intelligent optimizations.

Who are the sector leaders in AI tokens?
The Graph, SingularityNET, Fetch.ai, Ocean Protocol, iExec RLC, and Injective are among the most established and capitalized projects. Other promising projects will likely emerge as the sector matures.