The Rise of AI-Powered Web3 Applications
As the digital economy continues to evolve, artificial intelligence (AI) agents are poised to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of Web3. According to industry executives, AI agents will transform Web3 in 2025, with cryptocurrency staking and onchain trading emerging as early use cases.
The Current State of Agentic AIs
Agentic AIs — machines pursuing complex goals autonomously — are already reshaping the digital economy. They are building Web3 applications, launching tokens, and interacting with humans autonomously. As of December 2024, Web3 hosts approximately 10,000 AI agents, collectively earning millions of dollars each week from onchain activities.
The Projected Growth of AI Agents in Web3
According to a report by VanEck, the asset manager expects upward of 1 million AI agents to populate blockchain networks by the end of 2025. This projected growth is expected to have a significant impact on the decentralized community.
"The potential universe of AI agents interacting with crypto is infinite," said Matt Hougan, asset manager Bitwise’s head of research.
Early Use Cases for Agentic AIs
Cryptocurrency staking on behalf of human tokenholders is a viable early use case for agentic AIs. As Hougan explained:
"We’ll see a lot of experiments, but only a few will stick. AI agents participating in staking, for example, seems like a logical first step."
Staking involves securing a blockchain network by locking up tokens with validators in exchange for a cut of transaction fees.
ai16z’s Eliza: A Successful Agentic AI
Ai16z’s agent, Eliza, autonomously manages an onchain liquidity pool, purportedly clocking annualized returns in excess of 60%, according to data from daos.fun. This is just one example of the potential of agentic AIs in Web3.
Challenges Facing Agentic AIs
While agentic AIs have the potential to transform Web3, they also face several challenges. As Michael Casey, co-founder of the Decentralized AI Society, explained:
"AI will face increasing pressure to be regulated, and big players like OpenAI are lobbying for rules that align with their own models, potentially disadvantaging decentralized AIs."
Creating Viable Decentralized AI Agents
Creating viable decentralized AI agents depends on finding "decentralized solutions to ensure high-quality training data while safeguarding user privacy," said J.D. Seraphine, a Web3 AI developer at Raiinmaker.
The Importance of Positioning Yourself for Exposure
For investors, it’s essential to recognize the significance of agentic AIs in Web3 and position yourself for exposure. As Hougan explained:
"It’s okay not to know exactly what will happen as long as you recognize the significance and position yourself for exposure."
Conclusion
Artificial intelligence agents are set to transform Web3 in 2025, with cryptocurrency staking and onchain trading emerging as early use cases. While agentic AIs face several challenges, their potential impact on the decentralized community is undeniable. As investors, it’s crucial to recognize the significance of agentic AIs and position yourself for exposure.
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