Crypto’s Top 10 AI & Big Data Projects: ICP, Chainlink, and NEAR Lead Development Rankings

• ICP’s December updates focus on AI integration, interoperability, enhanced security, and enterprise partnerships with Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, Facebook, Instagram, etc.
• Chainlink and NEAR advance AI and cross-chain innovation, with Chainlink adding 14 new integrations and enabling a Solana–Base bridge via CCIP.

Blockchain analytics platform Santiment has come up with some of the best crypto projects in the AI and Big Data development space. As per the latest details shared by the platform Internet Computer (ICP), Chainlink (LINK), and Near Protocol (NEAR), to be in the top three of the list.

Internet Computer Protocol Unveils Ecosystem Updates

The DFINITY Foundation has detailed several Internet Computer (ICP) ecosystem updates for December 2025. The major focus is on expanding scalable compute, cross-chain communication, and privacy-preserving tools.

As per the recent updates shared by the DFINITY Foundation, the latest improvement cycle focuses on AI integration, interoperability, security enhancements, and upgraded user authentication.

Institutional partnerships with Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud have brought the Internet Computer Protocol (ICP) into enterprise environments, allowing blockchain-based workflows. Recent integrations with Facebook and Instagram broaden potential application areas, though the specifics of long-term data governance are still being defined.

Last Month, Internet Computer Protocol (ICP) announced integration with WordPress and Caffeine, which could help in the network expansion.

Chainlink Leads In Development Activity

A lot has been going on in the Chainlink ecosystem as the platform caters to multiple developments. Apart from AI, the oracles services provider is also leading on other fronts like tokenization, cross-chain bridges, and more.

Last week itself, Kamino Finance integrated with Chainlink’s secure and tamper-proof data streams for the tokenization of equities such as TSLA, META, NVDA, and GOOGL. Moreover, the blockchain has announced 14 new integrations across five services and 11 blockchains, covering both Layer-1 and Layer-2 networks. The latest Layer-1 additions include Bitcoin, Solana, Tron, and Aptos, while the new Layer-2 integrations span Arbitrum, Base, and Avalanche.

Chainlink is also catering to some cross-bridge integrations in recent times. Chainlink has enabled a new bridge connecting the Solana network with Coinbase’s Layer-2 blockchain, Base. The integration is designed to boost liquidity and streamline asset transfers between the two platforms. Chainlink will be using its own native CCIP technology for these bridge transfers.

NEAR Protocol Takes The AI Route

NEAR protocol is also once again in the limelight as it takes the AI route along with ICP and Chainlink. On December 4, NEAR Foundation introduced NEAR AI Cloud and Private Chat, as mentioned in our previous story.

Both these projects will deliver verifiable privacy for AI applications. The tools are already integrated into Brave Nightly, OpenMind AGI, and Phala Network platforms. As a result, NEAR brings this technology to more than 100 million users.

In another development, NEAR Foundation and Marg Finance jointly launched NEAR 20, an institutional-grade yield product on NEAR, targeting a 20% APY through AI-driven options strategies.