TLDR
- Total crypto market cap rose 2% to $3.1T following AI token and Dogecoin rally.
- Story Protocol (IP) surged 32% in 24 hours, leading AI coin performance.
- Dogecoin jumped 8% in a day, trading between $0.1169 and $0.1329.
- Musk called Nvidia CEO “super” after praise for Tesla’s Optimus robot.
A fresh wave of interest in artificial intelligence-related tokens pushed several top altcoins into strong gains. Story Protocol (IP) led with a 32% price jump in 24 hours, followed by Bittensor (TAO), Near Protocol (NEAR), and Render (RNDR), each posting gains between 8% and 15%. The market responded quickly after public interactions between Elon Musk and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang.
"Elon Musk is just an extraordinary engineer, and I love working with him. We're going to build many more computers together. I'm delighted to be working with him. I think the Optimus opportunity is just right around the corner. It's very likely that human robots are going to be… pic.twitter.com/jbgzCS1hl9
— DogeDesigner (@cb_doge) January 1, 2026
Huang referred to Musk as “an extraordinary engineer” in a recent interview and emphasized Tesla’s Optimus robot’s near readiness for mass production. “This is the first robot with a real chance of achieving high volume,” said Huang, describing a future AI industry worth trillions. Nvidia’s prior $2 billion investment in Musk’s xAI during a $20 billion round added more fuel to speculation around AI and blockchain convergence.
Dogecoin Rallies on Musk’s Public Comment
Dogecoin also surged over 8% in a 24-hour span, with the meme coin trading near $0.1275. This movement followed Musk’s response to a post by DogeDesigner, where he said, “Jensen is super!” The comment was in reply to Nvidia’s CEO praising Musk’s work on the Tesla Optimus project.
The meme-based cryptocurrency has often responded positively to celebrity endorsements. Its price peaked at $0.73 in 2021, driven by social media and Musk’s past endorsements. Analysts now track Dogecoin’s price between $0.1169 and $0.1329. To break out, the token must sustain trading above $0.15, which has been a key resistance point in recent weeks.
AI Tokens Gain Institutional Attention
AI-focused tokens such as Bittensor (TAO), Worldcoin (WLD), and Render (RNDR) gained on expectations around real-world AI adoption. Bittensor rose 8% to $235 with its trading volume up by 7%. The move came amid attention to Grayscale’s application for a Bittensor ETF, which could increase its exposure among traditional investors.
Render (RNDR) and Filecoin also posted double-digit daily gains. Analysts linked these gains to growing interest in decentralized compute networks. Sam Altman’s Worldcoin saw an 8.31% increase in trading activity, reaching over $101 million in volume. Artificial Superintelligence Alliance (FET) also posted gains, continuing its recovery after Ocean Protocol exited the alliance in 2025.
Crypto Markets Begin 2026 With Optimism
The total market cap now stands at $3.1 trillion after the recent surge in AI and meme coins. Trading volumes grew across multiple assets, with retail and institutional activity rising together. Analysts pointed to the public interaction between Elon Musk and Nvidia’s CEO as the key moment that reignited market enthusiasm.
Huang had earlier said in October, “I want to be part of almost everything Elon Musk is involved in,” during a CNBC interview. This ongoing public alignment between AI, robotics, and blockchain technologies is now seen as a driver of market movement, especially for tokens tied to real-world AI applications or strong online communities.
Get 3 Free Stock Ebooks
Discover top-performing stocks in AI, Crypto, and Technology with expert analysis.
- Top 10 AI Stocks - Leading AI companies
- Top 10 Crypto Stocks - Blockchain leaders
- Top 10 Tech Stocks - Tech giants
