Cryptocurrencies linked to artificial intelligence moved higher after Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang spoke at the GTC 2026 conference, outlining a new phase in AI development — shifting from training to deployment, inference, and autonomous agents.

Against this backdrop, investors actively bought thematic assets. Among the top gainers were TAO, FET, NEAR, and WLD, which posted double-digit growth following the updated vision of the AI market.

Huang also raised the forecast for the AI chip market, stating it could reach at least $1 trillion by 2027. According to him, the industry is entering an “inference inflection” phase, where systems capable of real-time operation and autonomous action will play a key role.

Despite a moderate reaction in Nvidia shares, the crypto market responded much faster. Analysts note that digital assets are more sensitive to news and narratives, while equities tend to rely on fundamental factors.