The Virtuals Protocol (VIRTUAL) is the trending token on CoinGecko, after posting notable gains over the day and in the last month.
However, heads turn amid concerns that whale control, weak fundamentals, and AI hype may be fueling a volatile rally.
VIRTUAL Whale Holdings Raise Red Flags
VIRTUAL, a fast-rising AI-themed token, has skyrocketed nearly 300% in May, gaining 46% in the past 24 hours alone. Trending on CoinGecko, data shows it was trading at $2.13 at the time of writing.
VIRTUAL price performance. Source: CoinGecko
Yet behind the meteoric price action lies a troubling concentration of power. According to blockchain analytics firm Nansen, the top 100 wallets now hold 93% of VIRTUAL’s total supply.
“This isn’t just concentrated — it’s vacuum-sealed…and Smart Money holdings? Up +14.35%,…Someone is positioning. Quietly,” Nansen wrote in a post on X (Twitter).
VIRTUAL token holders metric. Source: Nansen on X
Despite the hype, trading revenue from VIRTUAL’s underlying protocol tells a different story. According to Dune Analytics, revenue peaked at just $163,279 on Thursday, which is relatively low for a token that has surged over 300% in the last 30 days.
Virtuals Protocol revenue. Source: Dune dashboard
The sharp disconnect between price appreciation and actual revenue generation has raised concerns about sustainability, particularly as a handful of large holders dominate the supply.
“VIRTUALS’ price pumped by 3x since April 20th, while its protocol revenue looks like this,” one user remarked.
Based on sentiment on X, speculative interest in Virtual Protocol’s AI agent platform may influence the VIRTUAL price surge. Some analysts are calling the “second wave” of decentralized AI, with crypto analyst Hitesh Malviya explaining the growing traction on the protocol.
“The 2nd wave of AI agents is here, and it’s happening on Virtuals Protocol in a new form. Better lineup of agents, fair launch mechanism… and a new mechanism called Virgin Points,” Malviya noted.
Virgin Points Generate Fresh Demand for VIRTUAL Token
Virgin Points is a new loyalty-based allocation system that allows retail users to access early-stage token launches. These points allow users to pledge tokens in return for capped allocations, theoretically creating more equitable participation.
“By replacing the bonding curve, it uses a Proof of Contribution system to reward users based on ecosystem participation through Virgen Points and $VIRTUAL tokens. It has driven significant user engagement, with 8,300 unique addresses and 18,900 transactions recorded by early May, peaking at 2,274 transactions on May 5,” DWF Ventures explained.
According to data on Dune, over 4.9 million VIRTUAL tokens have been committed across these launches by over 10,000 participants. The data also shows a daily average commitment of 250,000 tokens. This mechanism appears to be generating fresh demand for VIRTUAL.
“VIRTUAL price is also going up lately with this new demand emerging for the token — the token price went up by 3.7x in the past 30 days,” Malviya added.
Virtuals genesis launch. Source: Malviya on X
However, the combination of whale dominance, tepid revenue, and sharp price increases raises questions about the long-term viability of the token’s valuation.
While the increased Smart Money activity is notable, it could just as easily represent opportunistic speculation rather than deep conviction.
VIRTUAL’s rally aligns with a broader rebound in altcoins amid improved market sentiment. However, the token may face heightened volatility with such a tightly held supply and relatively low protocol usage. This is especially true if larger holders begin to take profits.
While the narrative of AI innovation and decentralized participation is compelling, the data behind VIRTUAL’s meteoric rise calls for caution.
As attention intensifies, the coming weeks will test whether this price surge reflects real utility or just another speculative bubble in the making.
