- Render, Virtuals Protocol and Artificial Superintelligence Alliance tokens lead AI’s bounce
- Gains come as Bitcoin breaks above $92,000 amid the geopolitical situation in Venezuela.
- RENDER price could rally to $3-$5 region in the short term.
AI tokens have joined memecoins in starting the year higher, with Render price set for a potential retest of $3.
This comes as the cryptocurrency market kicks off 2026 with renewed vigor. Bitcoin has broken above $92,000 while Ethereum bulls have eyes on strengthening above $3,100.
Amid this, artificial intelligence-related tokens lead the broader recovery in altcoins, which in the past 24 hours, includes major gains for Virtuals Protocol and Artificial Superintelligence Alliance.
Pepe soared to lead memecoin’s rebound last week.
RENDER price gains 15% as AI tokens lead crypto bounce
The Render project offers a decentralized GPU rendering network, and ranks as one of the top AI tokens in the crypto space.
Amid an overall spike for AI coins, its native token has surged by more than 15%.
This move in the past 24 hours has seen the token top the $2.10 mark, with the uptick riding an intraday pump in buying pressure.
Per CoinMarketCap, over $139 million in Render has been traded in this period.
On a weekly basis, RENDER has posted over 56% gains. This aligns with a broader rebound in the AI crypto segment, where related projects have demonstrated even stronger momentum.
For instance, FET has advanced by more than 15% in the past day and 30% this past week.
Elsewhere, Virtuals Protocol (VIRTUAL) has rallied more than 25% and 51% in the same time frames, respectively.
Render price hovered near $2.07 at the time of writing.
Bitcoin price buoys altcoins
The gains for RENDER and other AI tokens have materialized against a backdrop of positive developments in the broader market.
After struggling at the end of 2025, Bitcoin is showing strength as the price breaks above $92,000.
BTC’s upside looks to have bolstered risk appetite across digital assets, even as geopolitical tensions escalate.
Recent US military actions in Venezuela, including strikes and the capture of President Nicolás Maduro, have introduced uncertainty.
However, market participants appear to view these events as contained.
Bulls are prioritizing Bitcoin’s strength and potential implications for energy markets over immediate risk-off sentiment.
RENDER price forecast
As the new year unfolds, AI tokens are joining memecoins in delivering robust early performance.
While investors could yet rotate into top coins, the early moves have the likes of Pepe (PEPE) and Shiba Inu (SHIB) ranking among the top weekly performers.
Retail enthusiasm amid some level of certainty will be good for small caps.
In this case, RENDER could eye a breakout to $3 or higher.
The charts show technical indicators pointing to constructive momentum.
A look at the weekly Relative Strength Index (RSI) suggests a potential upside continuation.
Buyers may nonetheless have to contend with the resistance zone highlighted by the weekly moving average.
