VIRTUAL Soars by 200% Over the Past Month as Smart Money Shifts Toward Virtuals Protocol.

VIRTUAL, the token of the rapidly growing Virtuals Protocol, has experienced a remarkable 207% price increase in the past 30 days, drawing significant attention from institutional investors. This surge has far outpaced the broader crypto market, including Bitcoin (BTC), which saw more modest growth in comparison.

The sudden rally has been largely attributed to inflows from “smart money”—a term used to describe institutional players and high-net-worth individuals—who are flocking to the Virtuals Protocol for its innovative use of AI-driven assets. On-chain data from Nansen reveals that institutional wallets have been particularly active, contributing $14.2 million in investments over the last month, with $8.56 million of that total arriving in just the past week.

VIRTUAL now sits at $1.66, making it one of the top-performing tokens in the last month. Over the past seven days, it has gained 11%, outperforming even Bitcoin, which has seen a 13% increase over the same period.

Smart money has been particularly focused on VIRTUAL, with the token leading trading activity among institutional wallets. The rise in demand has been coupled with increasing interest in the Virtuals Protocol’s Genesis launchpad, which went live two weeks ago. The launchpad rewards users with Virgin points for contributing to AI-related projects, rather than speculative trading, which has generated additional hype and growth.

“The launchpad has been a game-changer,” noted Bankless in a recent post. “It’s encouraging long-term involvement rather than just short-term speculation, which we believe is fueling the rise in VIRTUAL’s price.”

Genesis uses a proof-of-contribution model, allowing users to stake tokens and participate in decentralized AI applications, aligning perfectly with growing demand for blockchain-based AI solutions. This is likely a key factor in attracting both retail and institutional players to the protocol.

Unlike traditional token launches, Genesis promises transparency, automatic refunds for unmet goals, and clear vesting schedules, marking a shift toward more accountable and sustainable tokenomics. According to Bankless, these features give Genesis the potential to disrupt the current landscape of crypto token issuance.