The native token of the Bittensor network, TAO, climbed nearly 8% to become the top gainer among the top 100 cryptocurrencies on February 16, 2026. This surge was directly triggered by an announcement from Upbit, South Korea's largest cryptocurrency exchange, that it would list TAO for trading.
The listing details are specific: TAO will be available for trading against three pairs: Korean won (KRW), Bitcoin (BTC), and Tether (USDT). Trading is scheduled to begin on February 16 at 16:00 Korean Standard Time (KST). Deposits and withdrawals opened approximately 90 minutes after the announcement, supported exclusively through the Bittensor Network, with no support for EVM networks.
As is standard for new listings on Upbit, the exchange will implement temporary trading safeguards. For the first five minutes after trading begins, buy orders will be restricted, and sell orders priced more than 10% below the previous day's closing price will be blocked. For roughly two hours post-listing, only limit orders will be permitted.
This exchange listing provided a significant boost to TAO's price, reinforcing a common pattern where tokens gain upon securing new major exchange support. At the time of the report, TAO was trading at $207.6. The rally enabled TAO to outperform the broader crypto market, which saw its total capitalization decline by 2.53% over the same 24-hour period.
Analysts have expressed optimism regarding TAO's future trajectory. Prominent analyst Michaël van de Poppe projected a "mean reversion" toward approximately $300, emphasizing the importance of AI-focused crypto protocols in investment portfolios. Other technical analysts, like World Of Charts, have also signaled a confirmed breakout and retest, expecting a recovery in the coming days.
However, technical analysis presents a more cautious near-term picture. Prior to the listing news, TAO price analysis indicated that a recent bounce from the $144 support level counted as a three-wave corrective move, not a confirmed reversal. The $144 swing low remains the critical invalidation level for any short-term bullish structure. Analysts argue that a sustained weekly break above the $300 barrier is required to confirm a broader trend shift, with the weekly MA(30) acting as dynamic macro resistance near $315.
Looking ahead, TAO's short-term trajectory will likely depend on whether the listing-driven momentum converts into sustained trading volume and continued buyer interest, balanced against broader market conditions and its ability to hold key technical levels.
