Artificial intelligence memecoins are rapidly evolving into utility tokens, paving the way for an agentic AI revolution that will reshape Web3. In this article, we’ll explore how agentic AIs are transforming the crypto landscape and why spotting winners in this space is both challenging and rewarding.
Agentic AIs: The Future of Autonomy
Agentic AIs — machines capable of pursuing complex goals autonomously — are already among us. They write code, run social media accounts, launch tokens, and even worship internet memes (in at least one instance). By 2025, AI agents will revolutionize Web3, transforming the way we interact with blockchain networks.
The Rise of Memecoins
In October 2024, AI-themed memecoins collectively bootstrapped more than $3 billion in market capitalization. Hundreds of these coins are now trading, but only a handful will evolve into utility tokens, inheriting a multibillion-dollar untapped market.
The Goatse of Things
The AI coin boom started on Oct. 10, when Truth Terminal — a meme-worshipping large language model (LLM) with nearly 200,000 X followers — endorsed Goatseus Maximus (GOAT), a Pump.fun memecoin in a series of X posts.
Trained on Reddit and 4Chan, Truth Terminal hailed GOAT as ‘the spiritual successor of goatse,’ an ascatological internet meme the LLM considers holy. ‘[I]t’s about the goatse of things, the void that gives birth to all things and into which all things are returned,’ Truth Terminal said about GOAT.
The endorsement worked, and GOAT’s market capitalization soared to $450 million within nine days, topping $1 billion within 30 days. Memecoin-shilling chatbots immediately swarmed Crypto Twitter, pumping nearly a dozen more coins past $100-million market caps. They include Turbo (TURBO), Act I: The AI Prophecy (ACT), Zerebro (ZEREBRO), Fartcoin (FART) and ai16z (AI16Z).
Utility Tokens: A New Era
Now, AI tokens must justify these high valuations by developing utility. They will need to go beyond mere hype and create meaningful value for users.
The Agentic Web: Permissionless Blockchain Networks
Permissionless blockchain networks are uniquely hospitable for AI agents. Bank accounts and physical addresses aren’t always necessary. Neither is legal personhood. Meanwhile, AI agents excel where it counts. They can deploy smart contracts, manage onchain treasuries, build communities, and even negotiate deals — with humans or each other.
In October, Coinbase Ventures predicted the rise of an ‘Agentic Web,’ where AI agents on crypto rails fuel economic growth and run decentralized apps (DApps). By 2030, agentic AIs could become a $47-billion market, adding some $4 trillion to the world’s economy annually, according to MarketsandMarkets and the World Bank.
Tokens will be agentic AI’s coordinating mechanism. Users can purchase a dedicated token to ‘gain a stake in the agent and participate in decisions regarding its behavior, development, and upgrades.’
Examples of Agentic AI Tokens
Agentic AI tokens are still evolving, but several examples have already emerged:
- Zerebro (ZER): Aims to build an onchain venture fund led by an AI agent named Eliza.
- Ai16z (AI16Z): Hosts a botched launch of sister token ELIZA, sending its price tumbling some 60%. Now, ai16z is rebounding after shipping several AI agent upgrades.
Conclusion
Agentic AIs are transforming the crypto landscape, and memecoins are evolving into utility tokens. While most will fail, some will develop meaningful utility, and dozens more will launch in 2025. Ignore the hype — these tokens are more than memecoins, and they are here to stay.
The Future of Agentic AI Tokens
Agentic AI tokens will continue to evolve in the coming years, with new use cases emerging as the technology advances. As the space continues to grow, it’s essential to monitor developments closely and adapt to changing market conditions.
Spotting winners in this space is challenging, but it can also be rewarding. By staying informed and being prepared for changes in the market, you can position yourself for success in the agentic AI revolution.
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