AI Concept Stocks Start Strong in October: DeFAI Application Layer Leads Rebound, Smart Risk Control and RWA Tracks See Major Institutional Investment
\nEarly October 2026, the AI concept stock market welcomed a strong opening, with the DeFAI (Decentralized Finance + Artificial Intelligence) application layer particularly impressive, becoming the focus of market capital pursuit. As the third quarter earnings season approaches, the investment logic for AI concept stocks is shifting from pure computing power speculation to more practical application value assessment. Against this backdrop, DeFAI application layer tracks such as smart risk control and RWA (Real World Assets) on-chain finance have received significant institutional investment, while traditional computing power chains continue to face capital withdrawal pressure.
\n\nOverall Market Performance of AI Concept Stocks in October
\nAs of the close on October 2, the overall AI concept stock index rose by 2.35%, outperforming the broader market by 1.2 percentage points. Among them, the DeFAI application layer index surged by 3.87%, showing the most outstanding performance; the smart risk control index rose by 3.21%; and the RWA on-chain finance index increased by 2.96%. In contrast, the computing power chain index fell by 0.78%, marking the third consecutive week of net capital outflow.
\n\nFrom a market sentiment perspective, the investor sentiment index for AI concept stocks rose from 52 points last week to 58 points, approaching the optimistic range of 60 points, indicating that market confidence in AI concept stocks is recovering. Particularly, attention to the DeFAI application layer has significantly increased, with related discussion热度 growing by 45% compared to the same period last month.
\n\nDeFAI Application Layer Leads the Rebound
\nIn the first trading week of October, the DeFAI application layer became the most capital-pursued sector among AI concept stocks. Data shows that DeFAI-related stocks had an average increase of 4.2%, significantly outperforming the overall AI concept stock market. Among them, sub-sectors such as AI-driven decentralized lending protocols, smart risk control systems, and RWA asset tokenization platforms performed particularly prominently.
\n\nIndustry analysts attribute the strength of the DeFAI application layer to three main factors: First, with the deepening application of AI technology in the financial sector, the intelligence level of DeFAI platforms has significantly improved, greatly enhancing user experience and risk management capabilities. Second, the gradual clarification of the regulatory environment for DeFAI has provided more stable expectations for industry development. Finally, changes in the macroeconomic environment have made investors focus more on AI projects with practical application scenarios and profitability rather than pure concept speculation.
\n\nSmart Risk Control and RWA Tracks Receive Major Institutional Investment
\nIn October's market performance, smart risk control and RWA tracks have become key focus areas for institutional capital. According to market monitoring data, in the past week, smart risk control concept stocks received net institutional purchases of 28.6 billion yuan, while RWA on-chain finance concept stocks received net institutional purchases of 19.3 billion yuan, together accounting for 62% of the total net institutional purchases in AI concept stocks.
\n\nLeading companies in the smart risk control sector, such as "Risk Control Technology" that uses AI for on-chain risk monitoring and "Credit Chain Intelligence" that develops credit assessment models, have recently received intensive research from multiple institutions. These institutions generally believe that as the DeFi market expands in scale and complexity, traditional risk control methods can no longer meet the demand, and AI-driven smart risk control systems will become core infrastructure for the DeFAI ecosystem.
\n\nMeanwhile, the RWA track has also seen significant institutional investment. Several well-known investment institutions have recently published research reports expressing optimism about the RWA track, believing that tokenizing real-world assets on-chain is an important development direction for the DeFi market, and AI technology will play a key role in this process, improving the efficiency of asset evaluation, risk pricing, and liquidity management.
\n\nClear Trend of Capital Shifting from Computing Power Chains to Application Layers
\nIn contrast to the capital inflow into the DeFAI application layer and smart risk control and RWA tracks, computing power chains continue to face capital withdrawal pressure. Data shows that the computing power chain sector had a net outflow of 15.2 billion yuan in the past week, marking the fourth consecutive week of net capital outflow.
\n\nMarket analysis suggests that the capital outflow from computing power chains mainly stems from three reasons: First, the global oversupply of AI computing power continues, leading to falling computing prices and squeezing the profitability of related companies. Second, the trend of large technology companies building their own computing centers is strengthening, reducing demand for external computing services. Finally, investors' focus on AI concept stocks is shifting from the infrastructure layer to the application layer, with greater preference for AI projects with practical application scenarios.
\n\nNotably, while the computing power chain as a whole faces capital outflow pressure, companies specializing in AI chip design and high-efficiency computing still receive favor from some institutions, showing a differentiated allocation of capital within the computing power chain.
\n\nInvestment Strategy Analysis for AI Concept Stocks in October
\nIn response to the market changes in AI concept stocks in October, many investment experts have provided corresponding investment strategy recommendations. Overall, the market is undergoing a rational shift from "computing power faith" to "DeFAI implementation," and investors should pay more attention to AI projects with practical application scenarios and profitability.
\n\nIn terms of specific allocation, it is recommended to focus on three main directions: First, smart lending protocols in the DeFAI application layer, which have optimized the efficiency and risk control capabilities of traditional DeFi through AI technology. Second, smart risk control system providers, as the development of the DeFi market will continue to increase demand for smart risk control. Third, RWA asset tokenization platforms, which are expected to break down barriers between traditional finance and DeFi, creating new growth points.
\n\nIn terms of risk control, investors need to pay attention to three major risk factors: policy changes, technological iterations, and market competition. Especially for DeFAI projects, changes in regulatory policies may have a significant impact on the industry, and investors should closely monitor the development of related policies.
\n\nFuture Outlook: DeFAI Track Poised to Become a New Anchor for AI Investment
\nLooking ahead to the fourth quarter and 2027, the DeFAI track is poised to become a new anchor for AI investment. With the deepening application of AI technology in the financial sector, the intelligence level and user experience of DeFAI platforms will continue to improve, attracting more users and capital inflow.
\n\nAt the same time, the rapid development of smart risk control and RWA tracks will provide more complete financial infrastructure for the DeFAI ecosystem, promoting the shift of DeFAI from niche to mainstream. It is expected that by 2027, the DeFAI market size could reach 50 billion US dollars, accounting for more than 30% of the total DeFi market size.
\n\nFor investors, seizing investment opportunities in the DeFAI track requires attention to three core elements: technological innovation, expansion of application scenarios, and business model maturity. Only those DeFAI projects that can truly solve industry pain points and create actual value can stand out in the fierce market competition and bring long-term returns to investors.
\n\nIn conclusion, the changes in the AI concept stock market in October mark the gradual maturation of AI investment logic. From computing power to applications, from concepts to implementation, AI concept stocks are entering an important period of value reconstruction. For investors, grasping this trend and focusing on investment opportunities in the DeFAI application layer, smart risk control, and RWA tracks is expected to yield substantial returns in the next wave of AI investment.
