Over the past year, global risk asset markets have shown a noteworthy divergence. On one side, the Nasdaq 100 Index (NAS100) continues to hit record highs, with tech giants like Nvidia, Microsoft, and Apple consistently attracting capital. On the other, Bitcoin, after reaching an all-time high, has entered a consolidation phase, and the overall profitability of the crypto market has lagged behind stocks linked to the AI industry chain.
This shift doesn’t mean capital is leaving risk assets. In fact, market performance shows investors still maintain a strong appetite for risk, but their allocation strategies are evolving. In recent years, the crypto market drew inflows thanks to ETF approvals, halving cycles, and institutional participation. Moving into 2025 and 2026, as AI commercialization accelerates and tech companies’ profitability improves, more capital is flowing toward stocks related to the AI industry chain.
For users who hold USDT and digital assets long-term, this change presents new investment ideas. Increasingly, crypto users are watching both Bitcoin and US tech stocks, seeking new allocation opportunities between digital assets and traditional financial instruments. Gate US Stocks was launched in this context, offering users a more convenient way to participate in the global equities market.
NAS100 Hits New Highs as AI Stocks Take Center Stage
Looking back over the past two years, AI has undoubtedly been one of the most important investment themes in global capital markets.
In 2023, the focus was on breakthroughs in generative AI technology. By 2024, capital began pouring into GPUs, data centers, and cloud computing infrastructure. Entering 2025 and 2026, the market’s attention is shifting from AI narratives to AI profitability. Investors are no longer just interested in technological prospects—they’re now evaluating whether companies can actually generate revenue and profit from AI.
This shift has directly fueled the continued strength of tech stocks. Nvidia has benefited most from rising GPU demand as the backbone of AI infrastructure. Microsoft is building an enterprise AI ecosystem through Azure and Copilot. Apple is leveraging its devices and ecosystem to enter the AI era. Meanwhile, companies like Broadcom and Snowflake are also gaining more market attention.
Market performance shows a clear split between the tech sector and the crypto market.
| Asset | Market Performance in 2024 YTD | Current Market Focus |
|---|---|---|
| NAS100 | Continues to hit new highs | Realization of AI profits |
| NVDA | Core beneficiary of AI cycle | GPU and data center demand |
| MSFT | Record highs | Enterprise AI applications |
| AAPL | Increasing capital allocation | AI device ecosystem |
| AVGO | AI infrastructure expansion | Networking and ASIC chips |
| BTC | Consolidation after new highs | Awaiting new catalysts |
From an investment perspective, the market now prioritizes not just whether a company has an AI angle, but whether it can convert AI into revenue growth and cash flow. Against this backdrop, AI industry chain stocks keep attracting capital, and NAS100 continues to break records.
Why AI Stocks Continue to Attract Global Capital
The investment logic around AI has clearly evolved.
Initially, investors paid for growth expectations, boosting valuations for many AI concept stocks. As the industry matured, attention shifted to AI infrastructure—GPUs, cloud computing, and data center expansion. Now, investment logic has advanced further: capital markets are focused on whether companies can commercialize AI.
For institutional investors, real profitability matters far more than hype. Nvidia’s data center revenue keeps growing, Microsoft’s Copilot expands its enterprise user base, and Apple is building a device-centric AI ecosystem with Apple Intelligence—all of which show up directly in earnings reports.
Compared to speculative narratives, profit growth is more sustainable. That’s why more global capital is increasing allocations to tech stocks and participating in the AI industry chain through products like NAS100.
Today, AI has evolved from a tech story to one of the most important profit growth drivers in capital markets, which is a key reason for the ongoing strength in tech stocks.
Why Bitcoin Has Entered a High-Level Consolidation Phase
Compared to the strong performance of AI stocks, Bitcoin’s recent price action has been relatively subdued.
However, over a longer timeframe, Bitcoin remains one of the best-performing assets in recent years. From around $16,000 at the end of 2022 to over $120,000 at its 2025 peak, Bitcoin has risen more than 600%, far outpacing most traditional financial assets.
The challenge now is that the key catalysts behind Bitcoin’s previous rallies are being absorbed.
ETF approval is done, the halving cycle has occurred, and institutional capital is already in the market. Unlike previous phases with clear growth narratives, the market is now waiting for new drivers.
Bitcoin also lacks recurring catalysts like quarterly earnings reports from tech companies. Investors can track Nvidia, Microsoft, and Apple’s revenue growth each quarter, but Bitcoin’s value relies more on macro liquidity, institutional allocation, and shifting market sentiment.
As AI stocks keep gaining new catalysts, Bitcoin is more prone to enter a consolidation phase. This doesn’t mean Bitcoin has lost its long-term value; it simply indicates the market is waiting for the next major driver.
Why NAS100 and Bitcoin Have Diverged
Over the past year, NAS100 and Bitcoin have started to show distinct performance differences.
| Comparison Dimension | NAS100 | BTC |
|---|---|---|
| Current Drivers | AI profit growth | Macro liquidity |
| Earnings Catalysts | Ongoing | Not applicable |
| Cash Flow Support | Yes | No |
| Institutional Allocation | Increasing | Relatively stable |
| Volatility | Relatively low | High |
| Current Market Sentiment | Optimistic | Neutral to cautious |
This divergence doesn’t mean tech stocks are replacing crypto assets. It’s more like a new round of capital rotation.
Capital markets always seek the fastest growth, clearest profits, and highest certainty. Right now, the AI industry chain fits these criteria. As tech companies keep posting better-than-expected earnings, the market is willing to assign higher valuations.
In contrast, while the crypto market still has long-term growth potential, it currently lacks new narratives like AI commercialization. As a result, some risk capital is shifting toward tech stocks, fueling NAS100’s continued strength.
Why Crypto Users Are Focusing on AI Stocks
For many investors active in the crypto market, US stocks aren’t a new concept. However, due to account systems, fund transfers, and trading habits, relatively few have actively invested in US equities.
As the market matures, investors’ mindsets are changing. More users are moving beyond single-asset investing, aiming to participate in multiple markets for more stable returns.
In recent years, many investors’ portfolios have centered on BTC, ETH, and a few major altcoins. Now, more users are paying attention to tech assets like NVDA, MSFT, AAPL, AVGO, and NAS100.
This shift reflects an upgrade in investment philosophy. For many, Bitcoin represents digital asset growth opportunities, while AI tech stocks offer global technology industry growth. The two aren’t rivals—they can complement each other in a diversified portfolio.
Which Users Is Gate US Stocks Attracting?
Based on current market conditions, Gate US Stocks is likely to attract three main types of users.
The first group is long-term stablecoin holders. These users want to participate in global stock markets without dealing with complex fiat deposits and broker account setups. Trading stocks directly with USDT significantly lowers the barriers to cross-market allocation.
The second group is investors focused on AI industry trends. As AI becomes a main investment theme worldwide, more users want to capture growth opportunities with leading tech companies like Nvidia, Microsoft, and Apple.
The third group is multi-asset allocators. These investors pay attention to digital assets, stocks, ETFs, and other traditional financial products. They seek unified account management to enhance capital efficiency and flexibility in asset allocation.
As global financial market boundaries blur, more users are shifting from single-market investors to global asset investors. This trend is driving the growing demand for multi-asset trading.
How to Invest in NAS100 and Leading AI Stocks via Gate US Stocks
For users looking to invest in the AI industry chain, there are two main approaches.
One is to invest directly in leading tech companies such as Nvidia, Microsoft, Apple, Broadcom, and Snowflake. These firms occupy key positions in AI chips, cloud computing, device ecosystems, and data platforms, making them core assets in the current AI industry chain.
The other approach is to invest in index products covering the broader tech sector. Compared to single-stock investments, NAS100 provides exposure to more tech companies, reducing the impact of volatility from any one stock.
With Gate US Stocks, users can leverage a unified account system to trade stocks and ETFs, seamlessly connecting digital assets with traditional financial assets and enabling cross-market asset allocation on a single platform.
Summary
Since 2026, one of the most significant shifts in global capital markets has been the sustained focus on the AI industry chain, with the Nasdaq 100 Index continually reaching new highs. At the same time, after several years of sharp gains, Bitcoin has entered a consolidation phase, with the market waiting for new growth catalysts.
This doesn’t signal a move away from risk assets, but rather a new rotation in risk preferences. Unlike relying solely on future narratives, leading AI companies are attracting global capital through real revenue, profit growth, and expanding business scale.
For more crypto users, investment logic is evolving. Instead of focusing only on digital assets, they’re now allocating to Bitcoin, AI stocks, and index products. Multi-asset allocation is becoming the new trend. Gate US Stocks is perfectly positioned to meet this shift, offering users a new gateway to connect digital assets with global tech assets.
FAQ
Why does NAS100 keep hitting new highs?
NAS100’s continued surge is driven by the expansion of the AI industry chain, tech company profit growth, and ongoing institutional inflows. As AI commercialization progresses, expectations for tech stock growth keep rising.
Why have AI stocks outperformed Bitcoin recently?
AI stocks have outperformed Bitcoin because tech companies can consistently demonstrate revenue and profit growth in their earnings reports. After ETF approval and the halving cycle, Bitcoin is waiting for new growth catalysts.
Why are crypto users buying US stocks?
More crypto users are buying US stocks due to increased demand for asset allocation. Many investors want to participate in both digital asset and AI industry chain growth to build more diversified portfolios.
Which is more volatile, NAS100 or Bitcoin?
Historically, Bitcoin’s volatility is much higher than NAS100. While tech stock indices carry risk, their overall volatility is typically lower than that of the crypto asset market.
Which AI-related stocks does Gate US Stocks support?
Gate US Stocks currently covers a wide range of US-listed stocks and ETFs, including Nvidia (NVDA), Microsoft (MSFT), Apple (AAPL), Broadcom (AVGO), and Snowflake (SNOW)—all core companies in the AI industry chain.
Who is Gate US Stocks best suited for?
Gate US Stocks is ideal for users looking to allocate both crypto and traditional financial assets, especially those who hold USDT long-term, follow AI investment trends, or want to manage global asset allocations.
