After a strong rebound last week driven by renewed optimism in AI-related tokens, Virtuals Protocol (VIRTUAL) faced heavy sell pressure over the weekend. The AI market could easily deliver the next 100X crypto as momentum in artificial intelligence exploded, but a sudden correction across the broader market has temporarily paused the rally.

The drop came as Bitcoin briefly dipped below $107,000 following the Balancer exploit worth $120M, which triggered cascading liquidations across major altcoins. Bitcoin has since recovered above $108,000, but sentiment remains fragile as traders digest the event.

EXPLORE: The 12+ Hottest Crypto Presales to Buy Right Now

VIRTUAL, which had just broken out from a multi-month downtrend, was hit with a -16% retracement in 24 hours, trading around the $1.38 level at the time of writing.

The correction coincides with a busy week in the AI and political sectors. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang was seen strengthening ties with U.S. President Trump amid ongoing trade tensions, a move that could influence the global semiconductor and AI landscape.

Nvidia’s soaring market value, now above $5 trillion, continues to fuel the speculative narrative surrounding AI-driven blockchain projects, such as VIRTUAL.

DISCOVER: Next 100x Crypto to Buy

VIRTUAL Price Analysis: Bullish Retest or Breakdown Ahead?

Virtual price analysis - is AI the next 100x crypto to buy?

(Source: Coingecko)

Looking at the daily chart, VIRTUAL recently completed a breakout from a descending wedge pattern that had contained price action since May. The breakout pushed the token above $1.60 before sellers stepped in around $1.90: a resistance zone aligned with June’s swing highs.

Current price action suggests a bullish retest of the breakout zone. The $1.30–$1.35 support range is a key area to watch; holding this level could confirm the move as a healthy correction before another leg up. A recovery from here might target the $1.90–$2.00 zone, while a breakdown below $1.15 could open the door to a retest of the $1.00 demand area.

In under 2 hours, Tom Lee joins @ethermage to discuss the Virtuals Protocol and how AI coordination and payments are taking root on Ethereum. Tom Lee is the Co-Founder and Head of Research at FS Insight by Fundstrat, and one of the most widely recognized and followed macro strategists on Wall Street.

His insights could offer a valuable perspective on the convergence of AI, finance, and blockchain, a sector where VIRTUAL continues to carve out a growing presence.

If sentiment improves and Bitcoin stabilizes, VIRTUAL could regain momentum as one of the most promising AI-linked tokens in the market.

EXPLORE: 20+ Next Crypto to Explode in 2025

Next 100X Crypto To Buy? Smart Money Turns To PEPENODE As Market Cools

The AI meta continues to expand rapidly, and many traders believe this growing sector could easily deliver the next 100X crypto.

As the market cools following Bitcoin’s recent move, smart money traders have started rotating into smaller, early-stage projects. In the search for the next 100X crypto, one new contender, PEPENODE, is drawing growing interest, with around $2 million raised in its presale so far.

This shift echoes what we’ve seen with Virtuals Protocol (VIRTUAL), which benefited from the AI trend earlier this month. While large-cap coins consolidate, traders are exploring lower-cap tokens that combine strong community energy with practical mechanics, and PEPENODE fits that profile well.

PEPENODE is built around a Mine-to-Earn model designed for retail players. Users start with a virtual server room and use PEPENODE tokens to purchase Miner Nodes, which generate mining power and token rewards over time. The system mixes gaming with on-chain participation, offering an easy entry point for newcomers who want to engage with a project that feels interactive and rewarding.

A defining feature is its deflationary token model. 70% of tokens spent in the in-game store are burned, steadily reducing supply and potentially increasing long-term value.

With 633% staking rewards and a presale price of $0.0011317, PEPENODE combines meme culture, gamified rewards, and a clear scarcity mechanism that appeals to both retail and early investors.

In a period when VIRTUAL’s AI narrative and Bitcoin’s recovery dominate discussion, PEPENODE stands out as another strong candidate in the search for the next 100X crypto.

Visit PEPENODE Here

Key Takeaways

  • Virtuals Protocol (VIRTUAL) faced a sharp -16% pullback after breaking its multi-month downtrend, as Bitcoin’s brief dip and the $120M Balancer exploit triggered market-wide liquidations.
  • Despite the correction, strong AI sector momentum and upcoming insights from Fundstrat’s Tom Lee could help VIRTUAL regain traction, positioning it among contenders for the next 100x crypto.

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Fatima
Fatima
Crypto Journalist

Fatima is a rising crypto journalist with a sharp eye for hidden gems and technical analysis. When she's not charting the next big breakout or diving into onchain data, a firm believer that alpha is where you least expect it,... Read More

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