RENDER surges 21%: The AI infrastructure race heats up, reshaping the industry leader landscape

On January 6, 2026, Render Network’s token RENDER surged strongly, with a single-day increase of over 21%, becoming the most prominent cryptocurrency asset in the AI track. This increase not only outperformed Chainlink (LINK) with 2% and Bittensor (TAO) with 5%, but also sparked a hot market discussion: Is the leading AI token switching? But before drawing conclusions, we need to see the true driving forces behind this rally.

The Real Buying Pressure Behind Price and Volume Growth

The most noteworthy aspect of this rally is not the price itself, but the market participation behind it.

According to data, RENDER’s 24-hour trading volume expanded simultaneously, with a single-day surge of about 71%, reaching $248.8 million. This structure of rising price and volume is often seen as a sign of significantly increased market engagement, indicating more funds actively entering the market, rather than a short-term pump caused by liquidity scarcity.

The derivatives market further reinforces this judgment. RENDER’s open interest increased by approximately 17% within 24 hours, reaching a total of $32.796 million. The simultaneous upward movement of open interest and price usually suggests traders are establishing new long positions, rather than a passive rise triggered by short covering. This reflects a recovering confidence in the short-term prospects of Render Network.

Why RENDER and Not LINK or TAO

To understand this issue, we first need to look at what RENDER, LINK, and TAO each represent.

Fundamentally, RENDER has an advantage that LINK and TAO currently do not: actual computing power demand. As AI applications explode, the demand for GPU computing resources is growing daily. As a decentralized GPU computing network, RENDER directly benefits from this trend.

Multiple reports emphasize that RENDER is becoming the “core infrastructure for decentralized GPU computing,” regarded by the market as the preferred target for AI capital rotation. This is not just hype; it is supported by real computing power demand. Looking at the ranking changes, RENDER has risen from 75th to 61st on CMC within three days, reflecting steadily increasing market attention and liquidity.

The Overall Strengthening of the AI Sector, RENDER is a Star but Not the Whole Story

It should be noted that RENDER’s sharp rise is not an isolated event but a reflection of the overall strength of the AI sector.

According to the latest data, the AI sector increased by 6.44% in 24 hours, with Virtuals Protocol (VIRTUAL) up 18.22% and Fartcoin (FARTCOIN) up 11.49%. In the weekly gain rankings, PEPE, MYX, RENDER, VIRTUAL, and BONK are the top five.

This indicates that capital is rotating within AI tokens. VIRTUAL’s 18.22% increase even surpasses RENDER’s 21%, showing that the market is seeking opportunities in multiple directions.

Caution Needed in the “Leader Switch” Narrative

The idea of a “leader switch” sounds attractive, but the reality is much more complex.

As the leader in oracle infrastructure, LINK’s market cap and liquidity still far surpass RENDER. TAO, as a distributed AI training platform, also holds a unique ecological position. RENDER’s recent surge is more about the market discovering new growth points rather than LINK and TAO losing favor.

A more accurate description is: the segmentation within the AI track is intensifying. The market no longer simply “all-in” on a single leader but chooses projects based on different application scenarios. RENDER has attracted attention because it corresponds to real GPU computing power demand. But this does not mean the importance of LINK and TAO is declining.

Key Points to Watch Next

From a technical perspective, whether RENDER’s price can continue its upward trend depends on the performance of key resistance levels.

According to the liquidity heatmap, around $2.80, there is approximately $343,500 in leveraged liquidity. In a strong trend, such areas often exert a “magnetic effect” on prices. If buying pressure continues to strengthen, RENDER’s price may challenge this zone.

However, it is also important to note that $2.80 could become a zone of short-term profit-taking. Once encountering resistance, a phase correction or consolidation is possible.

Fundamentally, whether RENDER can sustain this rally depends on whether real application scenarios can meet market expectations. If GPU demand continues to be released, RENDER’s upside potential remains. Conversely, if it is just hype, a correction could come quickly.

Summary

RENDER’s recent surge is indeed worth attention, but it is premature to say “leader switch.” A more accurate understanding is that the AI track is moving from a single-leader era to a diversified competition era. RENDER has gained market favor because it corresponds to real GPU computing power demand. LINK and TAO each have their own ecological value and will not lose importance just because of RENDER’s rise.

For investors, rather than fixating on who is the leader, it is better to understand each project’s fundamentals and application prospects. RENDER’s future performance warrants ongoing monitoring, but caution against overheating is also necessary. The story of the AI track is far from over, and the true leaders will ultimately be determined by actual application and ecosystem development.