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Bittensor (TAO) Crypto Surges 46% as Covenant-72B Launch Triggers Subnet Explosion
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Mar 18, 2026
Bittensor (TAO) crypto just surged 46% in March. Trading near $277.
The network successfully deployed its Covenant-72B model on Subnet 3. That is not a roadmap promise. It is a live heavy-compute model running on-chain.
The market responded immediately. The subnet-native τemplar token pumped nearly 200% in under a week.
TAO is no longer just a governance play. Actual utility demand is driving this move.
Covenant-72B: Why This Release Moved the Market
Covenant-72B is a 72 billion parameter large language model. A significant jump from the lighter models Bittensor has run previously. It means the network can now handle enterprise-grade compute loads.
That scale directly impacts validator staking. Running a model this size requires higher quality miner inputs and more TAO staked to secure the bandwidth. Demand for compute on Subnet 3 created direct demand for the collateral backing it. The pricing mechanism worked exactly as designed.
The biggest winner was not TAO itself. It was τemplar, the Subnet 3 native token, which rallied 194% following the deployment. That is the ecosystem feedback loop in action. High-performance subnets attract speculative capital, which deepens liquidity for the miners running there.
Volume backs the move. TAO’s volume-to-market-cap ratio is sitting between 17% and 19%, with over $254 million traded in 24 hours. That is not a thin order book pump. That is real participation.
When subnet tokens outperform the parent chain like this, it typically signals the start of an application layer season for the protocol. That is the next phase traders are positioning for.
TAO Crypto Price Analysis: Can Bulls Breach $300?
TAO is consolidating at $277.49, just below the $300 psychological level. Structure stays bullish as long as $250 holds.
The 46% impulse already flushed weak hands. OI is building. Traders are positioning for a breakout.
Bull case: daily close above $300 opens $350. Grayscale ETF filing provides the fundamental narrative. Volume needs to stay above $250 million daily to keep the momentum alive.
Bear case: rejection at $300 retests $240. If the broader altcoin recovery stalls, TAO could chop sideways for weeks. Watch $265 closely. Lose that level and the immediate breakout setup is invalidated.
Sources >> Bittensor (TAO) Crypto Surges 46% as Covenant-72B Launch Triggers Subnet Explosion
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