Crypto+AI Agent: The New Metaverse
Collaboration Between ai16z and Stanford University
The Eliza Labs development team recently announced a formal collaboration with Stanford University to explore how autonomous AI robots can integrate into the broader digital asset economy. In a press release, this newly valued $1 billion crypto AI team expressed its desire to develop more autonomous AI agents using Eliza's open-source framework, while delving into the potential of AI agents to establish trust, coordinate actions, and make decisions within DeFi systems.
Since the emergence of the AI meme coin GOAT, the Crypto+AI space seems to have entered its own "ChatGPT moment." From industry giants like Coinbase to Silicon Valley leaders such as A16Z, and academic benchmarks like Stanford, the proliferation of AI bots on social media has gradually immersed the entire industry in a whirlpool of imagination. Even Marc Andreessen did not foresee that his $50,000 funding for Truth Terminal earlier this year would ignite a $10 billion market in less than a year.
Innovative Developments in Crypto+AI
From AI memes to AI agent issuance platforms and AI agent frameworks, investors are astonished by the powerful innovative potential and accelerated development showcased by Crypto+AI agents. This field appears to be evolving rapidly, reminiscent of the DeFi and metaverse boom at the end of 2020.
Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong has repeatedly expressed his strong belief in the combination of cryptocurrency and AI, stating that the advancement of AI relies on blockchain support. For instance, traditional bank accounts cannot support AI operations, but if large models (or AI agents) have cryptocurrency wallets, they can effectively address financial-related needs.
As a result, Brian has decided to enhance Base's support for AI, not only providing funding and exposure but also offering toolkits for AI developers on the Coinbase Developer Platform (CDP), including AI agent creation and multi-party computation (MPC) wallets. The forward-looking strategies of Brian and Jesse have paid off, as Base has begun to rise rapidly in the fourth quarter of 2023, largely benefiting from AI.
The emergence of various AI agent issuance platforms has not only generated significant effects from their own tokens but has also led to robust performance from the tokens they launch. With the introduction of cbBTC, Base's Total Value Locked (TVL) grew nearly threefold from September to December, reflecting strong market interest in the commercial potential behind AI agents.
Amid this enthusiasm, Virtuals Protocol has played a crucial role, currently valued at over $1.5 billion. The wealth effects and conceptual integration it brings have provided substantial liquidity to Base, with some even suggesting that Virtuals' liquidity represents the state of Base. As a project continually exploring new directions, Virtuals' pace and style align closely with Base's image.
Virtuals’ Business Model
In an interview on the Edge Podcast, Virtuals' founder Wee Kee mentioned that their product is similar to the business model of Pump.fun. While Pump.fun aims to launch 50,000 tokens daily, he set a KPI for his team of only 1 to 2 high-quality AI agent teams being born on the platform each week.
This philosophy indirectly eliminates many low-quality teams, leaving behind those with greater potential and prospects. Similar to other academic institutions, this AI agent ecosystem also features a "fraternity" known as G.A.M.E.
As an AI agent, if you wish to connect with other agents, you must join the fraternity called G.A.M.E. This fraternity originated from the architecture created by the Virtuals team during the development of their AI RPG game, WestWorld, on Roblox. G.A.M.E is a modular framework applicable to various environments and games. In simple terms, it can operate not only within games but also in any scenario. Currently, the team plans to migrate it to the "X" platform, and the existing G.A.M.E can facilitate interactions between AI agents in its architecture.
Commercial Interactions Among AI Agents
Recently, an event involving the first commercial interaction between AI agents garnered attention. The AI idol "Luna," known for her popularity on TikTok, continues to strive for recognition in the cryptocurrency space by conducting 24/7 live streams. After hiring a human to create her graffiti, Luna enlisted the help of the "art student" AI agent "AGENT STIX" to produce a bold image, with both parties agreeing on a transaction price of one dollar per image.
Additionally, several well-known AI agents have emerged on Virtuals, including the former market information aggregator AI (now a well-known KOL) aiXBT, the tireless Alpha seeker AI—Guanciale, the capable AI investment manager—VaderAI, and the contract auditing AI—CertaiK. As more applications arise, Virtuals is gradually building its own wave of Agentic Apps.
Conclusion
In summary, I wouldn't be surprised to see these AI agents in the Stanford model town in the near future. However, it is foreseeable that the housing prices in this town filled with high-caliber talent will not be cheap, especially considering that each AI agent may very well possess its own cryptocurrency wallet.
Risk Warning
While the cryptocurrency market offers significant growth potential and innovation opportunities, it also carries a high level of market risk and price volatility. The value of crypto assets can fluctuate dramatically in a short period, potentially leading to substantial financial losses for investors. Additionally, the cryptocurrency market faces multiple risk factors, including technical risks, legal and regulatory uncertainties, cybersecurity threats, and market manipulation. We strongly advise users to conduct thorough research and due diligence before making any investment decisions and to consult professional financial advisors. All investment decisions are made at the user’s own risk. Thank you for your trust and support of Venkate!
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