Crypto turns ‘contrarian bet’ as AI stocks draw investor attention: Bitwise

“Investors still believe in crypto, but now that it’s a contrarian bet, they favor fundamentals over vibes,” says Bitwise investment chief Matt Hougan....
Key takeaways
- 1Crypto has shifted from momentum trade to contrarian bet as AI stocks surge 43% YoY, with Nvidia gaining 1,500% since ChatGPT's launch.
- 2Institutional investors now favor crypto fundamentals over speculation, driving rotation toward smaller assets like Hyperliquid, Zcash, and Stellar.
- 3Total crypto market capitalization dropped to $2.38 trillion, 46% below October peak, signaling potential bear market end approaching.
Coins in this story
Why it matters
For Indian retail investors, this marks a fundamental shift from hype-driven trading to value-based crypto investing aligned with institutional practices. Understanding this transition helps identify genuine long-term opportunities versus speculative rallies in India's growing crypto market.
Explore how AI Agents is shaping crypto markets — aggregated stories, leading coins, and weekly momentum.
Explore narrativeRelated stories

Prediction market traders bet bitcoin's selloff has further to run
Prediction market traders are wagering bitcoin will fall further, pricing 66% odds of sub-$55,000 and 50% odds below $50,000 by year-end. Heavy ETF outflows and investors rotating toward AI stocks pressure BTC near $65,000. Capital fleeing crypto isn't entirely leaving the ecosystem—stablecoins USDT and USDC are gaining share as traders raise cash awaiting better entry points.

Big tech is 'terrified' of AI agents wiping out ad revenue, says Billions Network CEO
Tech giants face an existential threat as AI agents—which ignore display ads—disrupt the internet's $200+ billion advertising model. Billions Network, supporting over 9,000 developers including TikTok and HSBC, provides on-chain infrastructure for accountable AI agents. The firm also partners with India's Ministry of Labor and Railways, securing credentials for 1.2 million personnel. Non-human traffic now exceeds human engagement, fundamentally inverting how web discovery operates.
