Altcoin News Today: Coins to Watch Include HBAR, TAO, LTC and VIRTUAL

Key TakeawaysHedera (HBAR) surges 14.44%, driven by ETF launch momentum and bullish technical breakoutBittensor (TAO) jumps 10.7%, boosted by institutional accumulation and upcoming halvingLitecoin (LTC) rises 2.76% ahead of its Nasdaq ETF debut and strong on-chain metricsVirtuals Protocol (VIRTUAL) gains 12.79% on OKX listing and AI agent adoption surge Hedera Leads Altcoin Gains with ETF-Fueled RallyHedera (HBAR) surged 14.44% in the past 24 hours, outperforming the broader crypto market (-0.47%) and extending its 7-day rally to +17.94%. The rally followed the launch of the Canary HBAR ETF on the NYSE, the first regulated altcoin ETF, opening the door for institutional participation.HBAR’s trading volume spiked 337% to $951 million, reflecting strong buying pressure and speculative inflows. Technical indicators confirm bullish momentum: HBAR broke above its 30-day SMA ($0.1925) and Fibonacci 23.6% retracement ($0.2012). Bittensor (TAO) Strengthens on Institutional Demand and Halving HypeBittensor (TAO) rose 10.7% in the past day, extending its 30-day gain to 51.25%. The move reflects accelerating institutional accumulation ahead of the project’s first halving in December 2025, which will reduce daily emissions by 50%.Publicly traded entities such as TAO Synergies and xTAO expanded holdings to over 54,000 TAO (~$24 million), while Grayscale filed for a Bittensor Trust, signaling institutional confidence in decentralized AI infrastructure.On the charts, TAO reclaimed $436 as support and targets $495 resistance. The RSI (58) and MACD both show bullish momentum, though short-term consolidation remains possible. A confirmed close above $495 could open the path toward $740, aligning with broader AI-token strength across the market. Litecoin Builds Momentum Ahead of ETF LaunchLitecoin (LTC) climbed 2.79% over the last 24 hours, continuing a 9.63% weekly rally and outperforming major peers. The move comes ahead of Canary Capital’s spot Litecoin ETF, which begins Nasdaq trading on October 28 under the SEC’s auto-activation approval.Institutional accumulation supports the uptrend — wallets holding ≥100 LTC now control 67% of total supply (68M addresses), with firms such as MEI Pharma and Luxxfolio adding to holdings.On the technical front, LTC has reclaimed its 200-day SMA ($100.23) and faces resistance at $103.62 (30-day SMA). A weekly close above $109 (38.2% Fib) could confirm a trend reversal, while a drop below $100 risks testing $92.74 (61.8% Fib). Virtuals Protocol Extends Rally on AI AdoptionVirtuals Protocol (VIRTUAL) jumped 5.02% in the past 24 hours, extending a 92.22% weekly surge.On the technical front, VIRTUAL broke a 19-week downtrend, reclaiming $1.43 Fibonacci support. The RSI (77.56) signals overbought conditions, but the MACD histogram (+0.0905) confirms strong bullish momentum. Traders are now watching the $1.70 resistance (61.8% Fib) for a possible continuation breakout. Market Outlook: ETF and AI Catalysts DominateDespite the CMC Altcoin Season Index remaining low at 30, certain altcoins are leading the charge in outperforming Bitcoin (+0.5%) and Ethereum (+1.2%) amid rising institutional inflows, ETF launches, and AI-driven narratives. While HBAR and LTC benefit from ETF-related optimism, TAO and VIRTUAL are riding AI and infrastructure themes that continue to attract high-confidence investors.Still, overbought technicals across several names suggest a near-term consolidation phase may follow. Key watch: HBAR ETF inflows, LTC ETF launch performance, and TAO’s halving countdown, all of which could steer altcoin momentum into November.