With momentum building across altcoins, three projects are drawing investor attention for very different reasons

Near Protocol (NEAR) is testing major resistance, Bittensor (TAO) is gaining steam with AI-focused momentum, and Unstaked has quietly passed $6 million in crypto presale funding.

Three projects have investors buzzing for very different reasons: Near Protocol (NEAR) is testing major resistance, Bittensor (TAO) is gaining steam with AI-focused momentum, and Unstaked has quietly passed $6 million in crypto presale funding. While NEAR looks to break out past $3.50 and TAO pushes deeper into price discovery, Unstaked is attracting users with a practical blend of AI utility, on-chain governance, and smart incentives.

This analysis dives into each project’s positioning in the current cycle and why Unstaked is being recognized as a top trending crypto to watch.

Near Protocol (NEAR) Price Breakout: Eyes on $3.50

Opening with a technical outlook, Near Protocol (CRYPTO:NEAR) is currently trading at $3.23, having risen more than 36% in recent weeks. Technical signals suggest that the price may be approaching a decisive moment as it stalls at a strong resistance band. This zone, spanning between $3.35 and $3.50, has historically limited NEAR’s rallies.

Prior attempts to break through this range have resulted in setbacks, making it a litmus test for short- and medium-term sentiment. Breaking above $3.50 could invite increased accumulation and set sights on $4.00 as the next target. However, failure to do so may push NEAR back toward the $3.00 zone or lower, with evident support expected between $2.20 and $2.60.

In the short term, NEAR is positioned above all key Simple Moving Averages (SMAs), including the 50 and 200-period SMAs at $2.82 and $2.44 respectively. The Bollinger Bands are also visibly widening, indicating increased volatility, with the upper band aligning closely with the final point of resistance. A move above this band could spark increased interest.

As one of the top trending crypto assets this week, the next few sessions for NEAR will be interesting to watch and could determine whether the current rally has further legs or stalls.

Bittensor (TAO) Forecast: AI Fueling the Momentum

Next up is Bittensor (CRYPTO:TAO), which has come into the spotlight as a standout performer in the AI-meets-blockchain niche. The project focuses on building a decentralized machine learning network where participants are rewarded for contributing useful models and data processing capabilities.

The current Bittensor (TAO) forecast remains bullish as the project continues to benefit from strong narratives around artificial intelligence and decentralized compute. While exact figures vary depending on the exchange and timeframe used, TAO has sustained a consistent uptrend throughout Q2 of 2025.

Analysts observing on-chain activity highlight a sustained influx of liquidity and new validators, suggesting potential for long-term growth. However, the rapid ascent also pushes TAO into technically overbought zones, raising questions about whether a consolidation phase may follow.

Moreover, strong resistance levels are present around the token’s all-time highs, which could introduce some short-term volatility as traders react to these boundaries. Despite this, the structural fundamentals of Bittensor (TAO) remain largely intact.

The Bittensor (TAO) forecast will depend largely on broader AI sentiment, investor appetite for infrastructure tokens, and Bittensor’s ability to expand its active user base and developer participation. Still, its place as a top trending crypto reflects the rising demand for AI-integrated blockchain solutions.

Unstaked: $6M Raised, AI Utility, and On-Chain Intelligence

While news cycles are filled with the Near Protocol breakout and the latest Bittensor forecast, another project has been making waves in a different way. Unstaked, a community-driven DeFi protocol, has now passed $6 million in presale crypto funding.

Designed to be a self-sufficient and adaptable DeFi ecosystem, Unstaked combines AI automation, transparent governance, and performance-linked incentives in a structure aimed at both accessibility and functionality. The protocol is powered by a system it refers to as Proof of Intelligence, which assesses wallet behavior, participation quality, and on-chain engagement to determine optimal reward allocation.

This model minimizes spammy interactions and encourages long-term contribution over short-term speculation. Meanwhile, built-in AI systems assist users in handling the platform and making yield-related decisions based on real-time conditions.

Governance is managed via the native token, UNSD, which grants holders influence over proposals, changes, and integrations. Rewards are based on task completion, wallet activity, and referral interactions. The project is also running a $1,000,000 Gleam competition, with 20 winners receiving $50,000 each.

To qualify, users must complete social tasks, refer participants, and purchase at least $100 in UNSD. This