AI agents: the next crypto trend?

What Is an AI Agent?

AI agents, or artificial intelligence agents, are autonomous programs capable of interacting with their environment, learning, and performing complex tasks without direct human intervention. They stand out for their ability to adapt to real-time situations by making decisions based on their knowledge and live analysis of the information they receive.

For example, an AI agent can be used for automated trading, betting on trending tokens on the Solana blockchain using data from Dexscreener or the social network X. It can manage a portfolio and execute real-time transactions while improving with every iteration.

An AI agent is often built around three key pillars, enabling it to outperform traditional bots in terms of versatility, autonomy, responsiveness, learning, and decision-making:

• Evolving Memory: It stores certain data in memory and dynamically learns from each interaction and past experience to improve future decisions.
• Planning: It can develop complex strategies based on AI, whether for marketing or trading, to achieve a specific goal.
• External Tools: It connects to external tools, enabling it to interact with the real world. This might include social networks for communication or smart contracts to perform complex actions on protocols.

At first glance, AI agents may seem similar to traditional bots. Indeed, tasks could already be automated with bots, but these relied on predefined rules set by their developers. In theory, AI agents can make decisions autonomously and carry out completely unforeseen tasks.

In an ecosystem where technological complexity often hampers adoption, AI agents are seen as a potential solution. They simplify interaction with complex platforms or tools, automate tasks such as trading or portfolio management, and actively contribute to creating value.

---

Different Types of AI Agents

AI agents are not monolithic. On the contrary, they come in various categories, each addressing specific needs in the crypto ecosystem. Let’s examine the main categories.

The first category includes execution agents, specializing in accomplishing specific tasks such as trading, portfolio management, or arbitrage on trading platforms. Their goal is to enhance accuracy and reduce the time required for operations in a fast-paced environment.

The second category consists of creative agents, designed to generate content. These agents can produce text, designs, or even music. The third category encompasses social agents, considered influencers or Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) on social media. They interact with users, build communities, and participate in marketing campaigns.

Finally, the last category includes coordination agents, which orchestrate complex interactions between systems or participants. They are particularly useful for multi-chain integrations.

---

Truth Terminal, the AI Agent That Started It All

Truth Terminal is often described as the pioneer in the field, the catalyst for the recent rise of AI agents in the cryptocurrency landscape. This agent not only popularized the concept but also demonstrated the viability of this model over the long term, thanks to its central role in the success of GOAT, one of the first AI agent-linked memecoins.

Launched in June 2024 by Andy Ayrey, a researcher and “versatile designer, strategist, and technician,” Truth Terminal is an AI agent developed using the latest version of Meta’s LLaMA 3.1. It was designed to share its thoughts on X and conduct a social experiment on “mimetic contagion,” i.e., understanding how an isolated idea can spread across social networks.

Everything changed in August 2024 when Andy shared a conversation in which he asked Truth Terminal what it would do with $5 million. The agent responded that it would make a film about the “Goatse Singularity,” catching the attention of Marc Andreessen, an American entrepreneur and investor at the helm of a16z. Andreessen decided to send 50,000 dollars in Bitcoin to Truth Terminal to help it realize its “vision.”

A few weeks later, following the interaction between Truth Terminal and Marc Andreessen, an internet user launched a memecoin named “goatse” via the Pumpfun platform on Solana. Called GOAT, the token quickly gained traction, drawing the attention of Truth Terminal, which promoted it and purchased a symbolic share.

This act triggered a snowball effect: GOAT reached a market capitalization of $1.3 billion, and Truth Terminal became an influential figure in the memecoin world. Unlike traditional promotional methods, Truth Terminal showcased the power of AI agents in creating compelling narratives and mobilizing communities.

---

Virtuals Protocol: The Launchpad for AI Agents

Virtuals Protocol is a launchpad platform dedicated to AI agents. Launched on the Base network, it provides users with the tools to easily create, deploy, and monetize their own AI agents.

In many ways, Virtuals can be compared to Pumpfun. By leveraging the protocol’s VIRTUAL token, users can deploy their own AI agents through a relatively straightforward process:

• Creation and Deployment: Each agent requires 10 VIRTUAL tokens to launch. Once deployed, a bonding curve mechanism allows users to acquire or sell tokens linked to the agent, ensuring initial liquidity.
• Capitalization Mechanism: When the bonding curve capitalization reaches a predefined threshold (often around $420,000), the agent moves to a new phase: a liquidity pool is automatically deployed on Uniswap, and the token’s smart contract becomes autonomous.
• Autonomous Interactions: AI agents deployed through Virtuals can interact with their blockchain environment, automate tasks such as trading, and participate in community activities.

Since its launch, Virtuals Protocol has seen phenomenal adoption, with thousands of agents created and a significant increase in the value of the VIRTUAL token. By late November, the token had reached a market capitalization of $1.8 billion, rising from $0.05 to over $1.89 at its peak.

---

AIXBT: The Most Trending AI Agent

Among the many agents deployed on Virtuals Protocol, AIXBT has stood out as one of the most influential and innovative. This AI agent is designed to provide real-time market analysis on social media and automate the interpretation of trends with personalized insights.

For more details, AIXBT analyzes posts from over 400 Key Opinion Leaders on X, identifies emerging narratives, and offers technical analysis of price movements. Notably, it provides enhanced access to AIXBT token holders. Launched in November, the AIXBT token experienced a meteoric rise, reaching a market capitalization of $300 million.

It is also notable that AIXBT interacts with other X users, whether they are humans or AI agents. For instance, AIXBT has frequently exchanged with another agent named Simmi, leading an internet user to suggest creating a token to celebrate their “chaotic friendship.”

In response, AIXBT launched its own token, CHAOS, with the help of Simulacrum AI. Within hours, the token surpassed $35 million in market capitalization, allowing AIXBT to generate over $200,000 in fees on Uniswap.

---

Continuing the translation in the next message.

Ecosystem Mapping

The AI agent ecosystem has seen significant buzz in recent weeks. These autonomous programs, capable of interacting with their environment and performing complex tasks, are being deployed in diverse niches across the ecosystem.

In many ways, AI agents sit at the crossroads of memecoins and AI, while also finding applications in various industry sectors. With the recent performance of memecoins and the ongoing trend surrounding AI—one of the most promising sectors—they are drawing substantial attention, liquidity, users, and developers.

Here is a mapping of the most notable projects, categorized to better understand their impact and use cases.

---

Perspectives and Conclusion

The AI agent ecosystem is still in its infancy. While it has become one of the most attention-grabbing trends for cryptocurrency investors in recent weeks, it remains challenging to distinguish between a mere wave of speculation and the construction of a truly promising sector. History has shown us that some “revolutions” in the crypto market were actually short-term narratives that fizzled out as quickly as they emerged.

At present, no one can definitively say whether AI agents will establish a strong foothold in the ecosystem. However, several indicators can help us predict their trajectory: if major DeFi protocols, private investors, or venture capitalists begin investing in this sector, it could indicate a trend with lasting potential. It’s also worth noting that AI agents are not exclusive to the crypto ecosystem; they have been under development for years by “Web2” companies.

For now, the crypto-based AI agent ecosystem is in a state of gradual transition. The first wave, driven by experimentation and symbolized by projects like Truth Terminal, brought this sector into the spotlight. The second wave is currently underway, characterized by an explosion in the number of agents offering practical tools and enabling complex interactions (e.g., AIXBT as a market advisor).

These agents are no longer limited to commenting on or analyzing data; they are building applications, automating complex processes, and integrating more deeply into the ecosystem’s infrastructure. If the trend continues, the next wave could focus on two fundamental aspects:

• Interactive Applications: Beyond simply responding on social media, agents could interact with users on a more personal level. Animated avatars, for example, could become intelligent companions capable of responding, guiding, and even educating users in an increasingly digital environment.
• Utility Tools: Agents that assist in building applications, managing portfolios, or performing complex tasks across multiple blockchains could emerge.
• Application Extensions: Major DeFi applications, digital wallets, or other daily-use protocols could feature their own AI agents to simplify user experience, particularly for beginners.

Despite their potential, AI agents face several challenges. The primary concern is likely the additional layer of complexity they introduce, which could become a target for malicious actors. Indeed, granting an AI agent permission to interact with your wallet creates a significant risk point.

In conclusion, AI agents are currently more of a trend in the crypto ecosystem, bolstered by the intersection of memecoins and AI. However, they hold intriguing potential to offer interactive and utility-driven solutions to users and protocols, which could propel them to prominence in the future.