In a surprising twist, a crypto trading face-off between various AI models revealed that budget Chinese AIs are outperforming global tech giants. The standout performer? QWEN3 MAX, a relatively low-profile AI from China, which topped the charts with an impressive +7.5% return.
Meanwhile, some of the most hyped names in AI, including OpenAI’s ChatGPT, significantly underperformed. In fact, ChatGPT came last in the rankings, recording a painful -57% return over the course of the competition.
Budget AI Models Show Strong Performance
The results challenge the common perception that top-tier AI models from global tech firms automatically deliver better outcomes. Several lower-cost, Chinese-developed AIs, including QWEN3 MAX and other local contenders, produced more consistent and profitable trading strategies in the volatile crypto market.
Their success may be tied to region-specific data training, simplified modeling for financial predictions, or even faster local response times. Whatever the reason, it’s clear that in the world of AI crypto trading, bigger doesn’t always mean better.
UPDATE: China’s budget AIs beat big names in a crypto trading face-off. QWEN3 MAX won with +7.5%, ChatGPT finished last at -57%. pic.twitter.com/2w6oa43wmC
— Cointelegraph (@Cointelegraph) November 4, 2025
Implications for AI in Finance
The outcome of this trading face-off underscores a broader shift in how AI is being used in financial markets. With tools like QWEN3 MAX showing strong results, investors and developers may begin looking beyond the usual names in AI for smarter, leaner, and more effective trading bots.
It’s also a wake-up call for major AI developers—performance, not branding, wins in markets driven by data and volatility. As more traders explore AI-assisted strategies, they’ll likely consider a wider variety of models, especially ones that prove profitable in real-world scenarios.