Bittensor (TAO) price is down by more than 5.5% to $216.34, underperforming the broader market, primarily driven by a risk-off cascade across crypto. The drop comes as traders continue de-risking, with market structure weakening near a key ascending support zone. While TAO managed to hold above $214 intraday, on-chain and derivatives data suggest sellers remain firmly in control, raising the risk of a deeper move toward the psychological $200 level.
Adding to the pressure is the broader AI narrative shift following recent developments around Anthropic. As one of the leading players in the AI space, Anthropic’s latest advancements have intensified competition and shifted attention toward centralized AI models, which may be weighing on sentiment around decentralized AI projects like Bittensor. This shift appears to be contributing to reduced speculative demand for TAO in the short term.
TAO Price Sits at a Critical Level as Selling Pressure Builds
TAO’s daily chart shows the token testing an important ascending support trendline that has held the structure together since February. Price briefly touched $214 before bouncing slightly, but the recovery remains weak, showing buyers are still hesitant.
What stands out most is the volume profile. Most trading activity has been concentrated between $260 and $320, with the highest volume node sitting around $280. TAO is now trading well below that range, meaning it has slipped into a low-liquidity area where prices can move quickly without much resistance.
That increases the chances of a sharper drop if support breaks. Momentum is also fading. The MACD remains soft and is struggling to turn positive, suggesting bullish strength is still lacking.
Beyond the chart, order-flow data paints an even clearer picture. Both spot and futures cumulative volume delta (CVD) continue moving lower, which means real sellers are actively exiting the market rather than this being just a leverage-driven move. At the same time, funding rates remain positive, showing that long traders are still crowded, despite the decline, which is often a warning sign of further liquidations ahead.
Open interest has also been slipping, confirming that traders are closing positions as prices fall instead of opening fresh longs.
Can TAO Hold $200 or Is More Pain Ahead?
Currently, the Bittensor (TAO) price is sitting at a make-or-break zone. If buyers fail to push price back above the $228–$232 area, the current weakness could extend toward the $200 support zone, which remains the next major liquidity pocket.
A stronger recovery from here could still turn this move into a short-term capitulation. But until buyers show stronger conviction, the broader setup continues to lean bearish, with the $200 level now firmly in focus.