Internet Computer (ICP) climbed nearly 40% amid a tokenomic overhaul and renewed investor interest, reversing a prolonged downtrend. The rally was driven by DFINITY’s “Mission 70” whitepaper, surging trading activity and accumulating on‑chain signals that together reshaped market expectations.
DFINITY published the Mission 70 whitepaper on January 13, 2026, laying out a plan to cut ICP’s annual inflation by roughly 70% by the end of 2026. The initiative combines issuance cuts with measures designed to raise on‑chain utility, positioning reduced token flow alongside greater token burn from network usage.
The whitepaper release translated quickly into heavy market activity. Price gains reported included roughly 39% over the preceding week and about 26% in a 24‑hour window, with an earlier peak of roughly 45% seen on November 4, 2025. Trading volumes surged—reported jumps of about 150% and spikes reaching $797 million in some 24‑hour periods—point to strong capital inflows.
On‑chain analytics reinforced the narrative: exchange balances fell sharply, with a single‑day decline of over 58% as per Nansen, a pattern consistent with large holders moving assets off exchanges and lowering near‑term selling pressure. “This isn’t just a pump; it’s a multi‑faceted re‑rating,” said market analysts tracking ICP, summarizing the combined effect of tokenomics and accumulation.
Mission 70: a deliberate supply-and-demand reset
ICP’s renewed momentum was amplified by its alignment with the broader AI narrative. Product plans that emphasize AI workloads give the network a clearer path to transactional demand, supporting the demand‑side elements of Mission 70. Technically, proponents point to architectural features that allow direct dApp deployment without bridges, which market participants increasingly view as a security and composability advantage.
Regulatory shifts also played a supporting role. The passage of the U.S. Digital Asset Market Clarity Act in July 2025 and the appointment of a federal “Crypto Czar” reduced a layer of regulatory uncertainty that had weighed on institutional allocation decisions, indirectly benefiting protocols positioned for increased on‑chain activity.
Outlook: Investors will be watching execution through 2026. Delivery of Mission 70’s issuance cuts and the launch and adoption of AI‑oriented products will be the crucial tests for whether the current re‑rating sustains.
For market participants, the key questions are whether burning from increased compute will offset reduced issuance and if exchange supply remains constrained enough to support higher NAVs for ICP holders.
