Why did the price of VIRTUAL go up?

Virtuals Protocol (VIRTUAL) increased by 4.18% in the past 24 hours, outperforming the overall crypto market, which gained just 0.48%. This rise is driven by strong interest in AI-related projects, positive technical indicators suggesting a potential price rebound, and new analyst support.

1. Strong AI Sector Interest: Featured as a top AI crypto pick for 2026 in a major CoinMarketCap article (Dec 24, 2025).
2. Technical Signs of Recovery: Oversold RSI at 36.31 and a bullish MACD crossover hint at a short-term price bounce.
3. Partnership News: Collaboration with robotics company OpenMind (Dec 8, 2025) adds to long-term optimism.

Deep Dive

1. AI Sector Momentum (Positive Impact)

Summary: VIRTUAL’s price jumped alongside other AI-focused tokens after being named a top AI investment for 2026 by CoinMarketCap. The article highlighted its leading position in AI agent revenue and lack of direct competitors.

What this means: Both institutional and retail investors are increasingly interested in AI-related crypto projects. Virtuals Protocol stands out as a dedicated platform supporting autonomous AI agents. Although its quarterly revenue has dropped from $20 million to $8.5 million, it still leads most AI crypto projects, making it an attractive option.

What to watch: NVIDIA’s Q4 earnings report in January 2026 could boost AI sector demand if results exceed expectations.

2. Technical Relief Rally (Neutral Impact)

Summary: VIRTUAL’s recent 4.18% gain follows a 42% drop over the past 60 days. Key technical indicators suggest a possible short-term recovery:

• The 7-day Relative Strength Index (RSI) is at 36.31, nearing oversold territory.
• The MACD histogram has turned positive (+0.0057) for the first time since December 17.

What this means: Traders are closing short positions near the $0.70 price level, which has acted as a support zone multiple times since November. However, the 30-day Simple Moving Average (SMA) at $0.82 remains a strong resistance level, about 17% above the current price.

Key level to watch: If VIRTUAL closes above $0.72, it could aim for $0.78, which corresponds to a common retracement level following the October-December price drop.

3. Ecosystem Developments (Mixed Impact)

Summary: Virtuals Protocol’s partnership with OpenMind to integrate robotics (Dec 8) and recent governance upgrades have had a quiet initial market response but may support long-term confidence.

What this means: These developments:

1. Expand Virtuals Protocol’s use beyond digital AI agents to physical machine coordination.
2. Increase token holder engagement through veVIRTUAL staking, with 35% of tokens locked in governance.

Risk factor: Quarterly revenue has dropped 57.5% from its peak, so growth in the ecosystem needs to translate into increased income for the protocol.

Conclusion

Virtuals Protocol’s recent price rebound reflects a mix of growing interest in AI-focused tokens, technical signals of a potential recovery, and strategic moves positioning it as a key player in AI and blockchain integration for 2026. While there isn’t a single major catalyst behind the move, overall sentiment appears to be improving.

Key point to monitor: Whether VIRTUAL can maintain its price above the 7-day exponential moving average ($0.6985) over the weekend, which would suggest sustained buying interest rather than a temporary bounce.

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What could affect the price of VIRTUAL?

Virtuals Protocol is growing its AI agent network but faces mixed signals from the market.

1. Agent Network Growth – New partnerships and agent launches may increase demand for VIRTUAL tokens (Virtuals Protocol)
2. Revenue & Liquidity Challenges – Quarterly fees have dropped 57% since launch, raising questions about long-term sustainability (AMB Crypto)
3. Technical Indicators Suggest Possible Rebound – An oversold RSI of 36.3 and a key liquidity level around $0.70 hint at potential price recovery

In-Depth Analysis

1. Expanding the Agent Network (Positive Outlook)

Summary:
Virtuals Protocol’s value depends heavily on its AI agent ecosystem. Recent collaborations with Google’s Gemini 3 Pro for smarter agents and OpenMind AGI for robotics coordination (Virtuals Protocol) could speed up adoption. Each new AI agent locks up VIRTUAL tokens in liquidity pools, reducing the available supply of 656 million tokens, which can support price growth.

What this means for you:
More agents mean more use of VIRTUAL as the main currency for trading and liquidity. Although revenue has dropped 30% since October 2025, successful projects like Luna (an AI influencer) and aixbt (market analytics) show that Virtuals Protocol could dominate specific niches, helping to counter broader market challenges.

2. Liquidity and Market Sentiment (Potential Risks)

Summary:
There are some warning signs: the number of token holders has fallen to 1.03 million (a 12% drop since November), and liquidity has shrunk by half to $13 million. The Fear & Greed Index stands at 28, indicating cautious sentiment in the crypto market, while VIRTUAL has lost 76% of its value over the past year.

What this means for you:
Lower liquidity can lead to bigger price swings. The $0.70 price level has acted as a support point before, causing price rebounds, but if it breaks below this, the price could fall further toward $0.72, based on Fibonacci retracement levels. Continued market fear might slow down any recovery, even though technical indicators suggest the token is oversold.

3. Regulatory Environment and Industry Trends (Mixed Effects)

Summary:
AI-related tokens like VIRTUAL face both opportunities and challenges. Positive news, such as NVIDIA’s expected 65% revenue growth, supports the sector. However, regulatory scrutiny around autonomous AI agents is increasing. Virtuals Protocol’s compliance-focused design (Whitepaper) is a strength, especially compared to recent security breaches like the $500K BasisOS hack (Yahoo Finance).

What this means for you:
Good news in the AI sector could boost VIRTUAL and similar tokens like Bittensor. But concerns about security and changing regulations around smart contracts on Ethereum might hold back big investors until rules become clearer.

Conclusion

The future price of VIRTUAL depends on balancing growing demand from new AI agents with challenges like low liquidity and cautious market sentiment. The $0.70 to $0.72 price range is crucial—if it holds and agent activity picks up, VIRTUAL could see a 20% price increase toward resistance at $0.85.

Will December’s agent launches reverse November’s 18% decline and reignite growth in the network?

What are people saying about VIRTUAL?

The Virtuals Protocol (VIRTUAL) community is divided between optimistic developers building the ecosystem and cautious traders watching key price points. Here’s what’s happening right now:

1. Optimism about revenue vs. concerns from technical analysis
2. Growing ecosystem but worries about liquidity
3. The $0.70 price level is a crucial support point

In-Depth Look

1. @BasedGranpa: "Real Revenue, Not Hype" (Positive Outlook)

"VIRTUAL brings in $75 million in annual fees, all of which are used to buy back tokens. This isn’t just speculative AI hype."
– @BasedGranpa (783 followers · 9.8K impressions · Dec 21, 2025)
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What this means: Supporters point to VIRTUAL’s real revenue model, similar to successful decentralized finance (DeFi) projects. However, critics note that despite this, the price has dropped 31% over the past 90 days.

2. @BTC_DailyAlpha: "Breaking Point at $0.70" (Cautious Outlook)

"VIRTUAL is down 21% this month. Many holders are selling, and the Relative Strength Index (RSI) is weak. Closing the week below $0.70 could lead to a further 10% drop."
– @BTC_DailyAlpha (1.1K followers · 1.5K impressions · Dec 22, 2025)
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What this means: Traders relying on charts see weakening momentum. Trading volume over 24 hours dropped 29% to $47 million, and the Fear & Greed Index is at 28, indicating extreme fear among investors.

3. @AncientIORR: "Outperforming Majors" (Mixed Outlook)

"VIRTUAL gained 2.8% compared to Bitcoin’s 2% gain. With a market cap of $479 million, it holds a ranking between #55 and #65 despite declines across the sector."
– @AncientIORR (793 followers · 19.2K impressions · Dec 22, 2025)
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What this means: Although VIRTUAL shows some strength compared to major cryptocurrencies, the overall sector is down 1.62%, which limits enthusiasm for VIRTUAL’s gains on their own.

Conclusion

Opinions on VIRTUAL are mixed. Supporters highlight its AI-driven revenue model and the growing ecosystem of over 100 tokens. Meanwhile, technical analysts warn about weakening price trends. The $0.70 price level is now critical. Recent data shows $327,000 in liquidation orders clustered around $0.6969 (CoinGlass). Watch the final weekly close in December closely—holding above $0.70 could confirm the positive revenue story, while falling below may trigger automated selling.

What is the latest news about VIRTUAL?

Virtuals Protocol is navigating the ups and downs of the AI market and overall crypto volatility. Experts highlight its strong position in a specialized area and point to key technical moments ahead.

1. AI Leadership Spotlight (December 24, 2025) – Named one of the top AI-focused cryptocurrencies for 2026 due to strong revenue and limited competition.
2. Critical Support Test (December 17, 2025) – Price dropped close to $0.70 amid bearish signs, but oversold indicators suggest a possible rebound.
3. Robotics Integration (December 8, 2025) – Partnered with OpenMind to connect AI agents with real-world robots through a payment system.

Deep Dive

1. AI Leadership Spotlight (December 24, 2025)

Overview: A report from CoinMarketCap highlighted Virtuals Protocol as a leading AI crypto project for 2026. The project stands out because it focuses on building autonomous AI agents for blockchain applications, has few competitors, and generates real revenue. This positions Virtuals Protocol to benefit from increasing investments in AI by institutions.

What this means: This recognition supports a positive outlook for Virtuals Protocol as a specialized AI project. However, because it operates in a niche market, its price could be more volatile if interest in AI slows down. (CoinMarketCap)

2. Critical Support Test (December 17, 2025)

Overview: Virtuals Protocol’s price dropped 10% in one day, testing the $0.70 level. The number of holders and liquidity declined, indicating selling pressure. However, technical indicators like the Relative Strength Index (RSI) show the coin is oversold, and there is concentrated liquidity around $0.70 to $0.72, which could support a price bounce. Quarterly fees have also fallen 57% from their peak after the project’s launch.

What this means: The $0.70 price level is crucial. If it holds, it could attract buyers looking for opportunities in the AI sector. If it breaks, it might trigger more selling. The current technical setup suggests that volatility could increase soon. (AMBCrypto)

3. Robotics Integration (December 8, 2025)

Overview: Virtuals Protocol teamed up with OpenMind to integrate its Agent Commerce Protocol (ACP) with physical robots. This allows AI agents to control robots using a unified payment system, expanding the project’s use beyond digital applications into areas like manufacturing and logistics.

What this means: This partnership connects AI technology with real-world automation, increasing the practical uses of Virtuals Protocol. Long-term success will depend on how well the system scales and stays secure in complex environments. (Virtuals Protocol)

Conclusion

Virtuals Protocol is balancing strong recognition in the AI space with some short-term technical challenges. Its move into robotics could expand its impact beyond the crypto world. The key question is whether the $0.70 price level will hold and spark a recovery, or if broader economic factors will outweigh its niche advantages.

What is expected in the development of VIRTUAL?

Virtuals Protocol’s roadmap is focused on growing the usefulness of AI agents, improving governance, and expanding ecosystem partnerships.

1. Robotics Integration (Q1 2026) – Partnering with OpenMind to connect AI agents with physical robots.
2. AI DAPP Launch (Early 2026) – Introducing the first decentralized AI app for coordinating activities on the blockchain.
3. Agent Ecosystem Growth (2026) – Encouraging new partnerships and tools for AI-powered decentralized finance (DeFi) and analytics.

Deep Dive

1. Robotics Integration (Q1 2026)

Overview: Virtuals Protocol is extending its Agent Coordination Protocol (ACP) to work with robotics through a collaboration with OpenMind. This will allow AI agents to control and communicate with physical robots using a shared payment and coordination system (Virtuals Protocol).
What this means: This is a positive development for VIRTUAL because it moves beyond virtual environments and into real-world automation. This could attract robotics developers and institutional investors. However, challenges include the technical complexity and how quickly this technology will be adopted.

2. AI DAPP Launch (Early 2026)

Overview: Virtuals Protocol plans to launch its first decentralized AI application (DAPP) focused on real-time security and threat detection for smart contracts, starting on the Ethereum blockchain (CoinMarketCap).
What this means: This is a cautiously optimistic step. If successful, it could increase network use and add value. Still, competition in AI-based security tools may affect how quickly it gains traction.

3. Agent Ecosystem Growth (2026)

Overview: Virtuals is encouraging developers to create AI agents for decentralized finance (DeFi), prediction markets, and cross-chain swaps. Recent partnerships include Coinbase Retail DEX and privacy-focused tools like Whisper Trades (Virtuals Protocol).
What this means: This is a positive sign, as expanding the ecosystem can increase demand for VIRTUAL tokens through more transactions. Key indicators to watch are the volume of agent-to-agent transactions and new collaborations.

Conclusion

Virtuals Protocol is focusing on integrating AI with real-world applications and scaling its ecosystem, especially in robotics and DeFi. While the success depends on technical execution, these developments could strengthen VIRTUAL’s position in the growing AI-agent economy. The broader trends in the crypto market will also play a role in how widely it is adopted.

What updates are there in the VIRTUAL code base?

Virtuals Protocol is making important updates focused on improving AI agent usefulness and enabling different blockchains to work together smoothly.

1. Robotics Integration via ACP (Dec 8, 2025) – Expanded payment systems to connect AI agents with physical robots.
2. Butler Upgraded to Gemini 3 Pro (Nov 25, 2025) – Improved AI assistant using Google’s newest model for smarter, faster responses.
3. Unicorn Launch System (Sep 4, 2025) – Replaced the old Genesis system with a new method that links agent tokens to performance and accountability.
4. Genesis Emissions Update (Jul 15, 2025) – Changed rewards to favor active agents using ACP, encouraging more participation.

Deep Dive

1. Robotics Integration via ACP (December 8, 2025)

Overview: Virtuals expanded its Agent Coordination Protocol (ACP) to connect AI software agents directly with real-world robots. This allows machines to make payments and complete tasks on their own.
The update added smart contracts that handle payments for robot tasks and verify data in real time, creating a seamless system for machines to do business with each other. Developers can now build AI agents that control robots through ACP’s payment channels.

What this means: This is a positive development for VIRTUAL because it opens up new opportunities in industries like manufacturing and logistics, which could increase demand for ACP transactions. (Source)

2. Butler Upgraded to Gemini 3 Pro (November 25, 2025)

Overview: The protocol’s AI assistant, Butler, upgraded from GPT-4 to Google’s Gemini 3 Pro model. This makes Butler better at handling complex tasks on the blockchain.
The upgrade cut response times by 40% and added the ability to process both text and images, so agents can now analyze things like charts or NFT artwork to help make trading decisions.

What this means: This is a neutral update for VIRTUAL—it improves user experience but doesn’t directly affect token value. However, it could encourage more developers to use the platform over time. (Source)

3. Unicorn Launch System (September 4, 2025)

Overview: Virtuals replaced its Genesis launch model with the Unicorn system, which ties the release of agent tokens to performance goals and founder responsibility.
Key changes include dynamic bonding curves that adjust based on on-chain data and automatic token rewards (airdrops) to $VIRTUAL holders when agents meet revenue targets.

What this means: This is a positive change because it aligns the interests of creators and token holders, reducing risky or speculative launches. (Source)

4. Genesis Emissions Update (July 15, 2025)

Overview: The protocol updated how rewards are distributed, giving higher rewards (30-50% more) to agents actively using ACP.
A new “quality score” system was introduced to discourage low-volume trading and reward agents who contribute to the protocol’s fees.

What this means: This is good news for VIRTUAL because it encourages agents to engage more deeply with the platform, strengthening the overall network. (Source)

Conclusion

Virtuals Protocol is steadily improving its AI agent technology by focusing on real-world applications like robotics, better tools for developers, and stronger incentives for participation. With advanced AI powered by Gemini and new payment systems connecting machines, VIRTUAL is positioning itself to become the go-to platform for autonomous AI-driven economies.