At the end of September 2026, the AI concept stock market showed a clear pattern of fund differentiation. According to the latest monitoring data, main funds are continuously withdrawing from traditional computing power chains while significantly investing in the DeFAI application layer, especially intelligent risk control and RWA (Real World Assets) tracks which have become new favorites for institutional funds. This change in fund flow marks the market's rational migration from "computing power faith" to "DeFAI implementation," reflecting investors' reassessment of the value of AI application layers.
\n\nFund Flow: Clear Contrast Between Computing Power Chain Pressure and DeFAI Rise
\n\nIn the last week of September, the overall performance of AI concept stocks showed structural differentiation. Data shows that computing power-related sectors continue to face funding pressure, with many leading stocks experiencing net outflows, while the DeFAI application layer received counter-cyclical increases in institutional funds. This differentiation is not only reflected at the individual stock level but also forms a stark contrast across the entire industry chain.
\n\nRegarding the computing power chain, traditional computing power sectors represented by AI chips and cloud computing infrastructure experienced continuous fund withdrawals at the end of September. Market analysts point out that this phenomenon reflects investors' concerns about computing power overcapacity and higher expectations for the monetization capabilities of AI application layers. A strategy analyst at a large quantitative fund stated: "As AI model training costs gradually decrease, pure computing power expansion is no longer the market's focus, and the commercial implementation capability of the application layer has become a new valuation anchor."
\n\nMeanwhile, the DeFAI application layer showed a completely different fund flow. Monitoring data shows that at the end of September, DeFAI-related concept stocks received net inflows of institutional funds, with intelligent risk control and RWA tracks showing particularly outstanding performance. Many top fund companies significantly increased their allocation to DeFAI concept stocks in late September, showing long-term optimism from institutional funds for this track.
\n\nThe Logic Behind Computing Power Chain Fund Withdrawal
\n\nThe continuous withdrawal of funds from the computing power chain is not accidental but the result of multiple factors working together. First, from an industry cycle perspective, global AI computing power infrastructure construction has entered a mature phase, with the previous high-growth trend gradually slowing down, leading to adjustment pressure on valuations of related companies.
\n\nSecond, from a competitive landscape perspective, competition in the computing power field is becoming increasingly fierce, with price wars among leading companies exacerbating market concerns about industry profitability. A securities analyst stated: "As more players enter the computing power market, the industry's overall profit margins face downward pressure, which directly affects investor confidence in the computing power chain."
\n\nAdditionally, from a technology development perspective, the training efficiency of AI models continues to improve, while the growth rate of computing power demand per unit is slowing down, which has also reduced market expectations for computing power infrastructure. An AI technology expert pointed out: "The new generation of AI models has significantly optimized computing power requirements while maintaining performance, which has fundamentally changed the supply-demand relationship in the computing power market."
\n\nReasons for DeFAI Application Layer's Institutional Favor
\n\nIn contrast to the computing power chain, the DeFAI application layer received continuous increases in institutional funds at the end of September. This phenomenon is driven by profound industry logic and market factors.
\n\nFirst, from a business model perspective, the DeFAI application layer has shown a clear monetization path. Compared to traditional computing power investments, DeFAI applications use AI technology to improve financial service efficiency, directly generating quantifiable economic benefits. Data shows that DeFi protocols using AI risk control perform significantly better than traditional solutions in risk control and return optimization, bringing stable income sources for related companies.
\n\nSecond, from a regulatory environment perspective, the DeFAI application layer has made important progress in compliance. Many leading DeFAI projects have received recognition from regulatory bodies, especially in the RWA track, where AI-driven on-chain asset management and risk assessment systems are gradually being accepted by traditional financial institutions. This compliance process has greatly reduced the policy risks of DeFAI applications and enhanced their long-term investment value.
\n\nThird, from a technology development perspective, the integration of AI and DeFi is entering a substantive implementation phase. From smart contract optimization, on-chain risk monitoring to automated asset management, AI technology is reshaping the DeFi ecosystem in multiple dimensions. This technological integration not only improves the efficiency and security of DeFi systems but also creates new business models and growth points.
\n\nIntelligent Risk Control and RWA Track: New Favorites for Institutional Funds
\n\nAmong the DeFAI application layers, intelligent risk control and RWA tracks have become key areas for institutional fund allocation at the end of September. These two tracks have become the first choice for market risk-averse funds due to their unique risk-return characteristics.
\n\nIntelligent Risk Control: DeFi Security Upgrade Empowered by AI
\n\nThe intelligent risk control track showed particularly outstanding performance at the end of September, with many AI-driven DeFi risk control companies receiving large-scale institutional financing. Compared to traditional risk control systems, AI risk control systems can analyze on-chain behavior patterns in real-time, identify potential risks, and continuously optimize risk control strategies through machine learning.
\n\nMarket data shows that DeFi protocols using AI risk control had no major security incidents in the third quarter of 2026, while the security incident rate of traditional DeFi protocols decreased by 40% compared to the same period last year. This significant difference has led more institutional funds to flow into the intelligent risk control field.
\n\n"AI risk control is not just a technological upgrade but also the infrastructure for DeFi ecosystem security," stated an investment director at a top DeFi fund. "As the scale of DeFi continues to expand, risk control has become a key bottleneck for industry development, and AI technology happens to solve this pain point."
\n\nRWA Track: Bridging Traditional Finance and On-chain Economy
\n\nThe RWA (Real World Assets) track also attracted significant institutional funds at the end of September. RWA chain-realizes real-world assets through technological means, achieving the integration of traditional assets and the blockchain economy. AI technology is mainly used in the RWA field for asset evaluation, risk pricing, and automated management, greatly improving the efficiency and transparency of the RWA market.
\n\nMonitoring data shows that the average increase of RWA-related concept stocks exceeded the market index at the end of September, with many RWA platforms announcing strategic investments from traditional financial institutions. An investment bank analyst pointed out: "RWA represents the cutting-edge direction of integration between DeFi and traditional finance, and AI technology provides key technical support for this integration, thus receiving special favor from institutional funds."
\n\nMarket Sentiment: The Shift from "Computing Power Faith" to "DeFAI Implementation"
\n\nMarket sentiment monitoring at the end of September shows that the investment logic for AI concept stocks is undergoing a profound transformation. Investors' focus on AI concepts is shifting from pure computing power capabilities to practical application value, from technology-oriented to business-oriented.
\n\nMarket research data shows that over 65% of institutional investors believe that the commercial implementation capability of AI applications will become the main consideration for future AI investments, while less than 30% of investors still view computing power expansion as core value. This data comparison clearly reflects the change in market sentiment.
\n\n"The market is experiencing a rational migration from 'computing power faith' to 'DeFAI implementation,'" stated a senior AI investor. "In the early AI investment boom, the market overemphasized computing power scale while neglecting application value. Now, as the industry matures, investors place more importance on the practical commercial application and sustainable profitability of AI technology."
\n\nInvestment Strategy: Seizing Structural Opportunities in the DeFAI Application Layer
\n\nIn the face of current changes in fund flow for AI concept stocks, investors need to adjust their investment strategies and seize structural opportunities in the DeFAI application layer.
\n\nFirst, investors should focus on DeFAI companies that have achieved commercial implementation and have clear profit models. Compared to purely technology-driven companies, these companies have stronger risk resistance capabilities and sustainable growth potential.
\n\nSecond, investors should pay attention to leading companies in the intelligent risk control and RWA tracks. These two tracks have become key areas for institutional fund allocation, with good industry prospects and valuation space.
\n\nThird, investors need to follow the compliance progress of DeFAI projects. As the regulatory environment becomes clearer, compliance will become an important guarantee for the long-term development of DeFAI companies and an important consideration for institutional investment decisions.
\n\nFinally, investors should maintain a long-term perspective and avoid the impact of short-term market fluctuations. As an emerging field integrating AI and DeFi, the development potential of DeFAI needs time to be realized, and long-term investors will get better returns.
\n\nConclusion: Reconstruction of AI Concept Stock Investment Logic
\n\nThe changes in fund flow for AI concept stocks at the end of September mark a profound reconstruction of market investment logic. The migration of funds from the computing power chain to the DeFAI application layer reflects investors' rational return to the value recognition of AI technology.
\n\nIn the future, with the deep integration of AI technology and DeFi, the DeFAI application layer is expected to become a new blue ocean for AI investment. As important components of DeFAI, intelligent risk control and RWA tracks will continue to attract the attention of institutional funds, becoming structural opportunities in AI concept stocks.
\n\nFor investors, grasping this shift in investment logic and timely adjusting investment portfolios will help achieve better investment returns in the structural market of AI concept stocks. As a market analyst said: "AI investment has moved from the 'arms race' stage to the 'value capture' stage, and those companies that can transform AI technology into actual commercial value will become the new favorites of the market."
\n\nAs the fourth quarter of 2026 approaches, the AI concept stock market is expected to continue this structural differentiation trend, with the DeFAI application layer, especially intelligent risk control and RWA tracks, continuing to be key areas for institutional fund allocation. Investors should closely follow this trend and seize new opportunities in AI concept stock investment."