Why did the price of INJ go up?
Injective (INJ) climbed 3.13% in the past 24 hours, outperforming the overall crypto market’s 1.61% gain. This rise was driven by strong technical signals, new product launches expanding the ecosystem, and increased interest in altcoins during the current market phase.
- Technical Breakout – INJ’s price surpassed key resistance levels, showing bullish momentum.
- Helix’s WTI Futures Launch – The introduction of oil futures increased trading activity.
- Altcoin Season Support – Investors are shifting funds into higher-risk altcoins like INJ.
Deep Dive
1. Technical Momentum (Positive Signal)
Overview:
INJ’s price moved above its 30-day simple moving average (SMA) at $13.58 and passed the Fibonacci 38.2% retracement level at $14.03. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) stands at 55.77, indicating a balanced but slightly bullish market, while the MACD indicator shows upward momentum.
What this means:
Breaking above $14.03 suggests that short-term traders are buying INJ, supported by a 2.28% increase in trading volume over the last day. Historically, similar MACD crossovers have led to 10-15% price gains for INJ.
What to watch:
If INJ closes above the 23.6% Fibonacci level at $14.46, the next target could be $15.16, which is a recent swing high.
2. Helix’s WTI Futures Launch (Positive Impact)
Overview:
On September 3, Helix, a decentralized exchange built on the Injective platform, launched WTI Crude Oil futures contracts with 25x leverage. This product attracts traders interested in commodity exposure through crypto.
What this means:
New futures listings usually increase trading fees on the platform, 60% of which are burned, reducing the total supply of INJ tokens. According to Helix, derivatives trading volume on Injective has increased 41% month-over-month.
3. Altcoin Season Tailwinds (Mixed Impact)
Overview:
The CoinMarketCap Altcoin Season Index reached 76, up 69% from last month. INJ’s 30-day return of 9.6% outpaced Bitcoin’s 3.03% gain.
What this means:
INJ is benefiting from a market environment where investors are more willing to take risks on altcoins. However, it remains sensitive to changes in Bitcoin’s market dominance. With a market cap dominance of about 0.035, INJ can experience significant price swings.
Conclusion
INJ’s recent price increase is driven by a combination of strong technical factors, increased demand for its decentralized finance (DeFi) products, and favorable market rotation toward altcoins. The key level to watch is whether INJ can stay above $14.46 to confirm a new upward trend or if profit-taking near $15.16 will limit gains. Additionally, upcoming U.S. inflation data (CPI) could influence overall market liquidity and altcoin performance.
What could affect the price of INJ?
Injective’s price is balancing between exciting new technology upgrades and some market uncertainties.
- EVM Mainnet Launch (Positive) – Making Injective compatible with Ethereum could attract more developers.
- Staked ETF Progress (Uncertain) – If approved by regulators, it could bring in big investors; delays might hurt confidence.
- Token Burns & Staking (Positive) – Reducing supply and offering attractive staking rewards encourage holding the token.
In-Depth Look
1. EVM Integration & iBuild Launch (Positive Outlook)
What’s Happening?
Injective’s latest upgrade, called Ethernia, makes it compatible with Ethereum’s technology. This means developers can now build apps using Ethereum’s popular programming language, Solidity, while still benefiting from Injective’s unique features. Additionally, the new iBuild platform uses AI to let people create apps without coding, just by typing instructions. This was showcased at a recent event in New York City and aims to make app-building accessible to everyone.
Why It Matters
- Short-term: The EVM mainnet is expected to launch in late 2025. Similar upgrades on other blockchains, like Solana, led to big price jumps (Solana saw a 58% increase in 2024).
- Long-term: Making app creation easier could bring over 10,000 new developers by 2026, which usually means more users and higher total value locked (TVL) in the network.
2. Staked ETF & Regulatory Challenges (Mixed Outlook)
What’s Happening?
In July 2025, Cboe filed for the Canary Staked INJ ETF, which would be the first U.S. investment product allowing people to earn staking rewards through an ETF. However, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has been cautious about approving crypto staking ETFs, having rejected similar proposals for Ethereum earlier in 2025.
Why It Matters
- If approved, this ETF could bring in over $150 million from institutional investors within three months, based on similar products in Europe.
- If rejected, the price could drop by 15-20%, as seen with other tokens facing ETF delays.
3. Token Burns & Staking Rewards (Positive Outlook)
What’s Happening?
Injective uses 60% of its protocol fees to buy back and burn tokens every week, reducing the total supply. So far this year, about 8.2 million INJ tokens have been burned, worth roughly $120 million at current prices. Staking rewards currently offer around 2.1% APY on Bitvavo, which is lower than past averages but still helps offset inflation.
Why It Matters
- Burning tokens reduces supply by about 3.7% per year. If trading volume on Injective’s decentralized exchange (DEX) grows from $84 million to $500 million per month, this deflation rate could increase to 6.2%.
- With 57 million INJ tokens staked, selling pressure is reduced, but higher staking rewards might be needed to stay competitive with other projects offering better yields.
Conclusion
Injective’s future price depends on successfully rolling out its EVM compatibility and AI-powered app-building tools, while also navigating regulatory decisions around the staking ETF. The token’s deflationary model provides some price support, but breaking through resistance at $16.50 will be key to confirming a strong upward trend. Will the EVM mainnet spark a “Solana effect” for INJ, or will regulatory hurdles limit its growth? Keep an eye on the SEC’s ETF decision expected in November 2025 and how many developers join after the EVM launch.
What are people saying about INJ?
The Injective (INJ) community is buzzing with excitement about the potential approval of an ETF, but there’s also caution because of recent price swings. Here’s what’s making headlines:
- ETF filing boosts hopes for big investors
- Experts debate whether INJ will break above $15 or fall back to $12
- New EVM upgrade sparks interest among developers
In-Depth Look
1. @johnmorganFL: ETF Filing Seen as a Big Positive
“CBOE filed to list the first U.S. staked INJ ETF – a game-changer for institutional adoption.”
– @johnmorganFL (58K followers · 1.2M impressions · 2025-07-29 10:22 UTC)
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What this means: This is good news for INJ because if the ETF gets approved, it could bring in more traditional financial investors and support INJ’s unique staking model that reduces supply over time.
2. @ali_charts: Warning of Possible Price Drop to $8
“INJ breakout confirmed from ascending triangle, eyeing $8!”
– @ali_charts (412K followers · 3.7M impressions · 2025-09-02 03:01 UTC)
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What this means: This is a cautious outlook. The chart pattern suggests there could be a 45% drop if the $14 support level doesn’t hold. However, some say this analysis was made before the ETF news, which might change the picture.
3. @MDCryptoWorld: Mixed Reactions to EVM Upgrade
“Injective’s Ethernia upgrade merges WASM + EVM – but will devs migrate?”
– @MDCryptoWorld (89K followers · 687K impressions · 2025-08-31 06:45 UTC)
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What this means: This is cautiously optimistic. The upgrade makes Injective compatible with Ethereum’s developer tools, which could attract more developers. But actual adoption depends on how easy and rewarding it is for them to switch.
Summary
Opinions on Injective (INJ) are mixed right now. The potential ETF approval is driving institutional interest, but technical analysis warns of possible price drops. Keep an eye on the $14.50 price level—holding above it could push INJ toward $18, while falling below might test $12. Also, watch for updates from the SEC on ETFs and how well the new EVM upgrade is adopted by developers for clearer signals on where INJ is headed.
What is the latest news about INJ?
Injective is making waves in decentralized finance (DeFi) by launching new markets for oil futures and AI computing power, while also attracting institutional interest through ETF filings.
- WTI Oil Futures Launch (September 3, 2025) – Helix, a decentralized exchange on Injective, introduces oil trading, expanding Injective’s reach into real-world assets.
- NVIDIA GPU Derivatives Market (August 18, 2025) – The first on-chain market for AI computing power, combining DeFi with AI infrastructure.
- Staked INJ ETF Filing (July 29, 2025) – CBOE files with the SEC for an ETF based on staked INJ tokens, signaling growing institutional interest.
Deep Dive
1. WTI Oil Futures Launch (September 3, 2025)
Overview:
Helix, built on Injective, launched futures contracts for West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil with 25x leverage. Unlike traditional oil markets that operate during set hours and require upfront collateral, this market runs 24/7 and uses Injective’s shared liquidity system, making trading more capital-efficient.
What this means:
This launch is positive for INJ because it expands Injective’s presence in real-world assets, attracting commodity traders to DeFi. It showcases Injective’s flexible infrastructure capable of handling complex assets. However, success depends on maintaining strong liquidity and clear regulations around energy derivatives.
(Helix Blog)
2. NVIDIA GPU Derivatives Market (August 18, 2025)
Overview:
Injective teamed up with Squaretower to create perpetual futures contracts based on the hourly rental price of NVIDIA H100 GPUs, essential hardware for AI computing. Prices are updated through a custom oracle, allowing traders to speculate or hedge against AI compute costs.
What this means:
This development places INJ at the forefront of the growing AI and DeFi intersection, a key theme for 2025. While trading volumes are still modest (around $84 million daily), this innovative market aligns with Injective’s focus on programmable assets. However, it faces competition from centralized AI compute platforms.
(Crypto.News)
3. Staked INJ ETF Filing (July 29, 2025)
Overview:
The Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) filed with the SEC to list the Canary Capital Staked INJ ETF. This fund would allow traditional investors to earn staking rewards (about 12% annual yield) from INJ without directly interacting with blockchain technology.
What this means:
This filing is a strong positive signal, similar to how Bitcoin ETFs have boosted liquidity in crypto markets. If approved, it could open the door for more institutional investment in Injective. However, the SEC has yet to approve any staked crypto ETFs, so the timeline is uncertain. After the announcement, INJ’s price dropped 5%, a common reaction known as “sell the news.”
(Cryptopotato)
Conclusion
Injective’s recent moves into oil futures, AI compute trading, and ETF filings position it as a strong player in institutional-grade DeFi. Although INJ’s price has been volatile (down 3% over the past 60 days), ongoing upgrades and adoption of real-world assets could boost momentum. A key question remains: will AI-driven derivatives trading surpass traditional commodities on Injective by the end of the year?
What is expected in the development of INJ?
Injective’s roadmap is centered on growing its ecosystem and bringing in institutional investors.
- EVM Mainnet Launch (Q4 2025) – Making Injective compatible with Ethereum to attract more decentralized finance (DeFi) projects.
- iBuild AI Platform (2025) – A no-code tool that lets users build decentralized apps (dApps) using simple text commands.
- MultiVM Integration (2026) – Support for multiple blockchain environments, allowing projects from different chains to run on Injective.
- Staked INJ ETF Decision (Pending) – The SEC is reviewing a proposal for an ETF that lets investors earn rewards by staking INJ tokens.
Deep Dive
1. EVM Mainnet Launch (Q4 2025)
Overview
The upcoming Ethernia upgrade will make Injective compatible with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). This means developers can easily deploy Ethereum-based apps using Solidity programming language on Injective. At the same time, these apps can access liquidity from the Cosmos network through its Inter-Blockchain Communication (IBC) protocol. Injective offers very low transaction fees (around $0.0002) and fast transaction finality (about 1.1 seconds).
What this means
Positive: This could attract popular Ethereum projects, like decentralized exchanges similar to Uniswap, increasing the total value locked (TVL) on Injective and boosting the use of INJ tokens for transaction fees.
Negative: Any delays or technical problems could slow down this adoption.
2. iBuild AI Platform (2025)
Overview
Announced at the July 2025 Injective Summit, iBuild is an AI-powered platform that allows users to create DeFi applications by simply typing natural language commands, such as “Build a perpetuals DEX with 25x leverage.” During testing, users were able to launch working dApps in under five minutes (CoinDesk).
What this means
Positive: This tool could make building dApps accessible to more people, speeding up the growth of the Injective ecosystem.
Neutral: The platform’s success depends on how user-friendly it is and whether developers choose to adopt it.
3. MultiVM Integration (2026)
Overview
MultiVM will let developers run apps built for different blockchain environments, like the Solana Virtual Machine (SVM), on Injective without needing to rewrite their code. A public testnet has been live since Q3 2025, with the full mainnet launch expected in early 2026.
What this means
Positive: This could attract projects from Solana and other chains looking for access to Cosmos liquidity.
Risk: Other blockchains, such as Neon EVM, already offer similar cross-environment compatibility, so competition is strong.
4. Staked INJ ETF Decision (Pending)
Overview
In July 2025, Cboe BZX filed for approval of an ETF that would allow traditional investors to earn staking rewards on INJ tokens, which currently offer an annual percentage yield (APY) of 12.8%. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is expected to provide feedback by December 2025 (CryptoPotato).
What this means
Positive: Approval would signal that INJ is recognized as a serious asset for institutional investors.
Negative: If rejected, it could lead to selloffs by speculators.
Conclusion
Injective’s roadmap combines important technical upgrades, like EVM and MultiVM support, with growth strategies such as AI-powered tools and institutional investment options. While there are risks in execution, Injective’s focus on interoperability and connecting with traditional finance could position INJ as a key player in DeFi infrastructure. The big question remains: will Injective’s EVM compatibility outpace competitors like Polygon zkEVM?
What updates are there in the INJ code base?
Injective’s recent updates bring Ethereum compatibility, AI-powered app building, and stronger token scarcity features.
- Ethernia Upgrade (August 31, 2025) – Combines Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) with Injective’s existing technology for smoother cross-chain decentralized finance (DeFi).
- iBuild Launch (August 27, 2025) – A no-code platform that lets users create decentralized apps (dApps) using simple text commands.
- Community Burn Upgrade (June 30, 2025) – Automates monthly token burns to reduce supply and support token value.
In-Depth Look
1. Ethernia Upgrade (August 31, 2025)
What it is: This update allows Injective to run Ethereum-based smart contracts alongside its own system. Ethereum developers can now easily bring their projects to Injective and tap into liquidity from the Cosmos network.
Key benefits:
- Runs Ethereum contracts up to 12 times faster than some competitors like Avalanche
- Supports MetaMask wallet integration for easy access
- Transaction fees under 1 cent at the base layer
Why it matters:
This upgrade could attract many Ethereum developers to Injective, boosting its DeFi ecosystem and increasing demand for INJ tokens. (Source)
2. iBuild Platform (August 27, 2025)
What it is: An AI-powered tool that turns simple text instructions into working decentralized apps on Injective, no coding needed.
Highlights:
- Demonstrated by creating a prediction market app from just three sentences at a New York City event
- Makes building Web3 finance apps accessible to people without programming skills
- Currently in beta, with full release planned for late 2025
Why it matters:
This tool could open up dApp creation to a wider audience, encouraging more projects and users on Injective. Its success depends on how many people adopt it. (Source)
3. Community Burn Upgrade (June 30, 2025)
What it is: Instead of weekly manual token burns, Injective now uses automated smart contracts to burn INJ tokens monthly.
Details:
- Burns about 8,920 INJ tokens (roughly $98,000) per auction on average in 2025
- Transparent bidding limits on-chain
- Introduces a Revenue Fund to collect protocol fees
Why it matters:
Automating burns strengthens the token’s scarcity, which can support its value over time. So far this year, the total INJ supply has dropped by 7.3%. However, burning less frequently might slow down buying pressure temporarily. (Source)
Summary
Injective is evolving into a hybrid blockchain that combines Ethereum compatibility, AI-driven app creation, and a Bitcoin-like approach to token scarcity. The Ethernia upgrade and iBuild platform could bring more developers and projects to the network, while the automated burn system tightens token supply. With over 36,500 code commits annually, Injective ranks among the top 10 blockchains by developer activity. The big question: How will Ethereum compatibility influence Injective’s leadership in the Cosmos-based DeFi space?