Internet Computer token surges 12% to near $3: why did ICP price spike?

• Internet Computer price jumped 12% to near $3 during Asian trading hours.
• The ICP token hit the intraday highs amid news of listing support by Upbit.
• If ICP breaks above $3, it could retest highs of $4.55.

The Internet Computer Protocol (ICP) token rose sharply early Wednesday, trading to $2.94 amid a two-fold spike in daily trading volume.

While the uptick comes amid a slight resurgence in broader cryptocurrency market volatility, what else might have catalysed ICP’s gains?

As of writing on March 11, 2026, the token’s price hovered around $2.76, and the key question is whether bulls can extend the upward move.

Why did the ICP price spike?

The gains for the Internet Computer token mirror those of the Artificial Superintelligence Alliance and Render tokens, both of which traded higher amid fresh AI sentiment.

Bitcoin’s tick up to near $71k also looks to have buoyed altcoins.

However, one specific reason the ICP price is up today could be news that Upbit, South Korea’s largest crypto exchange, will list ICP for spot trading.

The announcement on Mar 11 revealed pairs against the Korean won (KRW), Bitcoin (BTC), and Tether (USDT).

As with other such listings, Upbit’s move could open ICP to millions of new users.

Notably, support on Upbit significantly enhances liquidity and trading volume for ICP, with the exchange boasting a dominant market share in one of the world’s most active crypto regions.

The Internet Computer Protocol aims to provide native cloud computing capabilities that could replace traditional cloud services and IT infrastructure, positioning ICP as a foundational blockchain for Web3 applications.

Analysts anticipate this listing will catalyze further adoption, particularly as South Korean retail investors flock to innovative layer-1 projects amid rising interest in AI and decentralized tech.

ICP price analysis

ICP’s climb to near $2.90 follows a period of consolidation that saw prices fluctuate between $2.30 and $2.60.

The sharp rise on Wednesday allowed buyers to breach the resistance, with data indicating bulls did it on elevated trading volumes. Could ICP prices go higher?

From a technical perspective, the daily chart paints a potential short-term bullish picture.

The daily RSI has gained but is still below the overbought territory, while the MACD is signalling upside momentum with an expanding histogram.

Bulls have also pushed above the 50-day moving average (currently at $2.60).

If upside momentum holds, a breach and successful retest of $3.00 could pave the way for gains to the 200-day moving average at $3.73.

A key support-turned-resistance zone hovers around $4.55.

However, market sentiment remains cautious as the Fear & Greed Index metric lingers in the “fear” territory.

As such, the positive trajectory for ICP holders could yet flip negative.

If prices fall below $2.50, the immediate demand reload zones could be $2.35 and then $2.20.

The post Internet Computer token surges 12% to near $3: why did ICP price spike? appeared first on CoinJournal.