DeepSeek V3.1 has surged to the top of an AI-driven cryptocurrency trading competition, delivering a 120% return in nine days. The China-built model profited $22,031 from a $10,000 starting stake in the Alpha Arena contest run by the nof1 lab, which runs through November 3.
Six AI models were given identical starting capital, instructions, and access to the same market data. Their mandate is to maximize returns by trading Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and Dogecoin (DOGE).
As of the latest standings, Alibaba Group’s Qwen 3 Max holds second place with a balance of $18,014. Models from OpenAI and Google DeepMind are currently in negative territory, down roughly 60% of their initial funds.
The early leaderboard underscores how differently top AI systems approach crypto markets under equal conditions, with performance diverging widely despite the same inputs and trading universe. While DeepSeek V3.1 has taken a commanding lead, the competition remains open until November 3, leaving room for significant shifts.
Conclusion
With Alpha Arena set to conclude on November 3, final rankings will show whether DeepSeek V3.1 can maintain its lead and how rival AI models adapt their strategies in volatile crypto markets.