Why did the price of INJ go up?

Injective (INJ) increased by 3.38% in the last 24 hours, outperforming the overall crypto market, which rose by 1.94%. This growth was driven by a significant institutional purchase and a technical bounce from oversold conditions, although some long-term challenges remain.

1. $8.9 Million Corporate Treasury Purchase – Pineapple Financial’s acquisition of INJ shows growing institutional interest.
2. Technical Bounce – Indicators like the RSI and Fibonacci levels triggered short-term buying.
3. Shift in Market Sentiment – Crypto sentiment moved from fear to neutral, encouraging more risk-taking.

In-Depth Analysis

1. Institutional Buying (Positive Signal)

Summary:
On October 7, Pineapple Financial bought 678,353 INJ tokens, worth about $8.9 million, as part of a $100 million treasury investment plan. These tokens will be staked to earn an annual yield of roughly 12.75%, which means fewer tokens will be available for trading.

Why it matters:

• This purchase represents about 0.9% of all INJ tokens currently available, creating buying pressure.
• It shows companies are starting to use INJ as a reserve asset that generates income, similar to how MicroStrategy uses Bitcoin.
• This follows recent SEC filings for an INJ staking ETF, though it’s still unclear if it will be approved.

What to watch:

• How Pineapple Financial uses the remaining $91 million in their treasury plan.
• Whether other companies follow this strategy with INJ.

2. Technical Bounce (Mixed Outlook)

Summary:
INJ’s price bounced back from oversold conditions:

• The 7-day Relative Strength Index (RSI7) hit 27.77, the lowest since July 2025, indicating oversold status.
• The price found support near the 61.8% Fibonacci retracement level at $7.98.

Why it matters:

• Automated traders likely bought at this support level, but the 30-day Simple Moving Average (SMA) at $11.48 remains a strong resistance point.
• The MACD histogram, a momentum indicator, showed slight improvement, suggesting bearish pressure is easing.

Key level to watch:

• A sustained move above $9.29 (the 50% Fibonacci retracement) could indicate a trend reversal.

3. Market Sentiment Shift (Neutral Impact)

Summary:
The crypto fear/greed index rose slightly from 25 to 27 in 24 hours, coinciding with INJ’s price increase. Bitcoin’s market dominance dropped by 0.18%, which often benefits alternative cryptocurrencies like INJ.

Why it matters:

• INJ’s price rise partly reflects a return of risk appetite after the World Trade Organization upgraded its 2025 trade outlook.
• However, the altcoin season index remains low at 25, indicating that Bitcoin is still leading the market, which limits upside for altcoins.

Conclusion

INJ’s recent price increase is driven by focused institutional buying, technical factors, and a brief improvement in market sentiment. Pineapple Financial’s purchase highlights INJ’s value as a staking asset, but the token still faces challenges, including a 60.5% yearly price drop and a significant decline in altcoin trading volume (-58% over 7 days).

What to monitor:

• Whether INJ can stay above $8.44 (daily pivot point) to maintain upward momentum.
• Pineapple Financial’s next treasury moves and how INJ adoption on the EVM mainnet progresses.

What could affect the price of INJ?

Injective's price is currently caught between growing interest from big investors and challenges in the market.

1. Big Investors Staking INJ – Pineapple Financial’s $100 million INJ holdings could reduce available supply, but success depends on how well they manage it.
2. Regulatory Risks for ETFs – The SEC’s delay in approving a staked INJ ETF might limit investments from institutions.
3. New Tech Upgrades – Upcoming Ethereum-compatible features and a no-code app builder could attract developers, but results are uncertain.

In-Depth Look

1. Big Investors Staking INJ (Positive for Price)

What’s Happening: Pineapple Financial plans to stake $100 million worth of INJ tokens, starting with an $8.9 million purchase in October 2025. Staking means locking up tokens to earn about a 12.75% annual return, which reduces the number of tokens available for trading and can push prices up. Other firms like Rex Shares and Osprey are also proposing similar staked INJ ETFs, showing growing interest from large investors.

Why It Matters: With fewer tokens circulating (about 99.97 million INJ currently available), and more demand driven by staking rewards, prices could stabilize or rise. However, Pineapple needs to carefully manage this large stake to avoid disrupting the market.

2. Regulatory Risks for ETFs (Negative for Price)

What’s Happening: The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is reviewing Canary Capital’s proposal for a staked INJ ETF. Although past policies under the Trump administration were more favorable to crypto, recent SEC staff comments in May 2025 suggest staking-based funds might not meet regulatory standards.

Why It Matters: If the SEC delays or denies approval, institutional investors might hold back, leaving INJ’s price more dependent on everyday traders. Approval could spark a price jump, like the 12% increase seen in July 2025 when ETF rumors surfaced. On the other hand, rejection could lead to significant sell-offs, such as the nearly $1 million loss from liquidations on July 29, 2025.

3. New Tech Upgrades (Uncertain Impact)

What’s Happening: Injective is launching the Ethernia upgrade in late 2025, making it compatible with Ethereum’s technology. They’re also introducing iBuild, a platform that lets users create decentralized apps without coding.

Why It Matters: If successful, these upgrades could increase transaction activity, leading to more INJ tokens being burned (destroyed) through trading fees of 0.1-0.2%, which reduces supply and can support price growth. However, competition is tough—Solana offers very high transaction speeds, and Ethereum is also rolling out improvements.

Conclusion

Injective’s future price depends on how well it balances growing interest from big investors with regulatory hurdles and the success of its new technology. Keep an eye on the SEC’s ETF decision expected by January 2026 and the launch of iBuild. The question remains: can Injective attract enough developer activity to stand out during a period dominated by Bitcoin?

What are people saying about INJ?

The Injective (INJ) community is buzzing with mixed feelings—some are excited about big institutional moves, while others worry about sharp price swings. Here’s what’s making headlines:

1. ETF excitement – The first staked INJ ETF has been filed, sparking optimism.
2. Price debate – Experts disagree on whether INJ will break out above $35 or drop to $8.
3. Platform improvements – New features like EVM integration and token burn mechanisms are attracting developer interest.

In-Depth Look

1. @kylobtc: Token burns boost bullish outlook

"Another $INJ burn is loading... supply gets tighter."
– @kylobtc (89K followers · 210K impressions · September 21, 2025, 4:00 AM UTC)
See original post
What this means: This is good news for INJ holders. About 60% of the fees collected by the protocol are used to buy back and burn tokens, reducing the total supply by roughly 8,920 INJ (around $98,000) every month. Less supply can mean higher value.

2. @ali_charts: Warning of a potential 50% price drop

"Injective $INJ has officially entered a new leg down!"
– @ali_charts (412K followers · 1.2M impressions · August 30, 2025, 8:01 PM UTC)
See original post
What this means: This is a bearish signal. The price fell below a key support level at $11.60, which now acts as resistance. If selling continues, the price could fall to $8.

3. @WorldOfCharts1: Potential for a $35 price surge

"Injective Can Hit 35$ In Coming Days."
– @WorldOfCharts1 (287K followers · 530K impressions · September 9, 2025, 8:19 AM UTC)
See original post
What this means: This is cautiously optimistic. For INJ to start a strong upward trend, it needs to break above $15.50. However, the Relative Strength Index (RSI) at 56.37 suggests momentum is weakening.

Summary

Opinions on Injective (INJ) are divided. On one hand, the filing of the first staked ETF for any Layer 1 token shows growing institutional interest. On the other hand, the price has been stuck between $8.64 and $15.50 since July 2025, with technical signals pointing both ways. Keep an eye on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) decision on Canary Capital’s ETF application expected by November 2025. Approval could lead to a surge in trading activity, while rejection might push prices down to the yearly low of $6.34.

What is the latest news about INJ?

Injective is making moves in the institutional space and navigating important protocol discussions as its ecosystem grows. Here are the key updates:

1. Pineapple’s $8.9M INJ Treasury Launch (October 7, 2025) – A publicly traded fintech company starts building the largest staked INJ treasury.
2. Centralization Dispute with Hyperliquid (October 13, 2025) – Injective Labs calls out a competitor’s infrastructure amid a disagreement over liquidation data.
3. Pre-IPO Perpetual Markets Launch (October 1, 2025) – Injective introduces synthetic markets for private companies like OpenAI.

In-Depth Look

1. Pineapple’s $8.9M INJ Treasury Launch (October 7, 2025)

What happened:
Pineapple Financial (NYSE: PAPL) bought 678,353 INJ tokens, worth about $8.9 million, as part of its $100 million Digital Asset Treasury plan. All these tokens will be staked on the blockchain, aiming for an annual return of 12.75%. This move makes Pineapple the largest corporate holder of staked INJ, integrating blockchain-based earnings into its mortgage business.

Why it matters:
This shows strong institutional confidence in INJ’s staking system and long-term value. By turning treasury assets into income-generating tokens, Pineapple sets an example for traditional companies to include INJ in their financial strategies. However, there are risks if staking rewards change or if regulations become stricter.
(Source: Cryptotimes.io)

2. Centralization Dispute with Hyperliquid (October 13, 2025)

What happened:
Bojan Angjelkoski, Injective Labs’ engineering director, criticized Hyperliquid for lacking decentralization, pointing to centralized validators and closed-source software. This came after Hyperliquid’s CEO Jeff Yan accused Binance of underreporting liquidation events by up to 100 times.

Why it matters:
This situation is neutral for INJ. It highlights Injective’s commitment to decentralized technology but risks associating the brand with broader industry transparency issues. While it reinforces Injective’s open-source values, the public disagreement might distract from the platform’s growth.
(Source: Yahoo Finance)

3. Pre-IPO Perpetual Markets Launch (October 1, 2025)

What happened:
Injective launched onchain perpetual markets that let traders gain synthetic exposure to private companies like OpenAI and SpaceX through Helix DEX. These markets offer 5x leverage and use decentralized data sources (oracles), setting them apart from centralized platforms like Robinhood.

Why it matters:
This is positive for INJ because it expands the use of real-world assets in the crypto space, attracting traders interested in regulated alternative derivatives. Since launch, over $1 billion in trading volume has been recorded. However, some countries like the US, UK, and Canada are excluded due to regulations.
(Source: Cointelegraph)

Conclusion

Injective’s recent developments—from corporate treasury adoption to innovative derivatives—show growing institutional interest. While debates about the protocol’s credibility continue, rising staking demand and trading volumes suggest strong momentum. The question remains: can INJ’s token model withstand broader market challenges?

What is expected in the development of INJ?

Injective’s roadmap is focused on growing its decentralized finance (DeFi) features and attracting institutional users. Key upcoming milestones include:

1. EVM Mainnet Launch (Q4 2025) – This will allow Ethereum-based apps to run on Injective while tapping into liquidity from the Cosmos network.
2. Pre-IPO Markets (October 2025) – Users will be able to trade synthetic derivatives on private companies like OpenAI, SpaceX, and Stripe.
3. iBuild Platform Expansion (2026) – An AI-powered tool that lets users create decentralized apps (dApps) without coding, using simple text commands.

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 deploy apps written in Solidity (Ethereum’s programming language) on Injective’s mainnet. It will also support other virtual machines like Solana’s VM without needing to rewrite code. Plus, it connects to Cosmos liquidity through the Inter-Blockchain Communication (IBC) protocol.
What this means: This is a positive development for INJ because it could bring in Ethereum developers, increase cross-chain liquidity, and boost DeFi activity on Injective. However, there is a risk of delays as the team ensures the mainnet is stable and secure before launch.

2. Pre-IPO Markets (October 2025)

Overview: Injective plans to introduce permissionless perpetual futures markets for private companies such as OpenAI, SpaceX, and Stripe. These markets will use data from Seda Protocol’s oracles and offer 5x leverage with 24/7 trading availability.
What this means: This feature could attract more users by combining traditional finance speculation with decentralized finance infrastructure. But regulatory challenges in the U.S., U.K., and Canada might restrict access to these markets (CoinDesk).

3. iBuild Platform Expansion (2026)

Overview: iBuild is an AI-driven platform that allows users to create decentralized apps by simply typing text prompts—no coding required. The platform will add new templates and governance tools. A live demo at the 2025 Summit showed how quickly a prototype can be deployed to the mainnet.
What this means: This could encourage more people to build dApps, fostering innovation. Its success depends on how well users adopt the tool and its technical reliability.

Conclusion

Injective’s roadmap highlights three main areas: making the platform compatible with Ethereum (EVM), offering institutional-grade products like Pre-IPO markets, and simplifying dApp creation with AI tools like iBuild. With the INJ staking ETF currently under review by the SEC and Pineapple Financial’s $100 million treasury initiative, institutional interest could help drive these developments forward.

Will regulatory approval for INJ ETFs open the door to a new wave of investment?

What updates are there in the INJ code base?

Injective is making big strides with Ethereum integration and security improvements.

1. EVM Mainnet Launch (October 15, 2025) – Injective now supports Ethereum-compatible apps, letting developers bring their Ethereum projects over.
2. Network Upgrade & Hard Fork (July 31, 2025) – Boosted speed, security, and scalability for better performance.
3. iBuild AI Platform (June 30, 2025) – A no-code tool that lets anyone create decentralized apps just by typing instructions.

Deep Dive

1. EVM Mainnet Launch (October 15, 2025)

What happened: Injective’s Ethernia upgrade combined two technologies (WASM and EVM), so Ethereum developers can now run their Solidity-based apps directly on Injective’s blockchain.
This launch also connects Injective with other blockchains through Cosmos/IBC and supports MetaMask, a popular Ethereum wallet. Transactions are super cheap (under 1 cent) and fast (finalized in about 0.64 seconds), making it great for decentralized finance (DeFi) projects.
Why it matters: This is a big positive for INJ because it opens the door to Ethereum’s large developer community, increases liquidity across blockchains, and positions Injective as a fast, low-cost platform for financial apps. (Source)

2. Network Upgrade & Hard Fork (July 31, 2025)

What happened: Binance temporarily paused INJ deposits and withdrawals to support this upgrade. The update improved derivatives trading, added support for multiple assets, and made the network more resistant to certain types of manipulation (MEV).
The upgrade also cut block validation time by 30% and improved compatibility with other blockchains like Solana and EVM-based chains.
Why it matters: This is somewhat positive for INJ. Although the upgrade caused short-term disruptions, it strengthens the network’s foundation, making it more suitable for professional-grade DeFi products. (Source)

3. iBuild AI Platform (June 30, 2025)

What happened: Introduced at the Injective Summit, iBuild is an AI-powered platform that lets users build decentralized apps without any coding—just by typing what they want.
It automatically creates the necessary smart contracts and user interfaces, with live demos showing apps deployed on the mainnet within minutes.
Why it matters: This is very positive for INJ because it lowers the technical barrier, encouraging more people to create and use DeFi apps, which helps grow the Injective ecosystem. (Source)

Conclusion

Injective is evolving into a powerful platform that supports multiple virtual machines, combining Ethereum compatibility with strong, secure infrastructure. With tools like iBuild, ongoing security checks, and faster processing, Injective is aiming for wider adoption in the DeFi space. The big question: Will Injective attract a flood of Ethereum liquidity now that it supports EVM?