Institutional Interest Grows in ICP Following Valour ETP Debut and AI Sector Surge

ICP Rises as AI Momentum and Swiss ETP Listing Fuel Institutional Interest

Internet Computer (ICP) continued its recovery on July 17, posting a modest gain of nearly 1% to hold above $5.50. The move comes amid renewed optimism across the altcoin market, driven by AI-related projects and increased institutional access.

Supporting the rally was the debut of a regulated staking exchange-traded product (ETP) on the SIX Swiss Exchange by Valour, a subsidiary of DeFi Technologies (DEFT). The listing of the 1Valour Internet Computer ETP marks a first for Switzerland, giving institutional investors exposure to native ICP staking rewards through a fully compliant vehicle.

This development has boosted confidence in ICP’s long-term utility and market visibility, especially among traditional finance players seeking blockchain-based yield.

On the technical front, ICP traded in a $0.29 range—from $5.49 to $5.77—according to CoinDesk Research. It peaked at $5.77 before retracing slightly, with notable support forming around $5.52 and $5.61, backed by institutional-size trades exceeding 1.7 million tokens.

Adding to the momentum is the rollout of Caffeine, an AI development platform built on Internet Computer that allows users to build decentralized apps using natural language. The integration of AI and staking has helped position ICP at the intersection of two fast-growing crypto sectors.

Key Technical Insights:

• Trading Range: $5.49–$5.77 (5.12% spread)
• Support Zones: $5.52 and $5.61, driven by strong volume
• High Activity: 121K tokens exchanged in a single minute at $5.65
• Closing Price: $5.5883, with $5.77 as the next key resistance
• Late Session Dip: Brief drop to $5.56 before stabilizing at $5.62

As AI adoption expands and staking utility gains ground, ICP is emerging as a standout in the altcoin space, backed by rising institutional interest and technical resilience.