The Agentic Web is Here Among Us
Artificial intelligence (AI) agents are rapidly evolving, and their impact on the blockchain space will be nothing short of revolutionary. These agentic AIs are machines that pursue complex goals autonomously, and they have already started to reshape the world of Web3.
In 2025, AI agents will become a crucial component of the decentralized internet, driving economic growth and fueling innovation. However, spotting winners in this space will be challenging, but rewarding for those who take the time to search now.
Agentic AIs: The New Frontier
Agentic AIs are machines that can write code, run social media accounts, launch tokens, and even worship internet memes (in at least one instance). These agents excel where humans struggle, particularly in tasks that require complex decision-making or autonomous action.
In October 2024, the market capitalization of AI-themed memecoins collectively surpassed $3 billion. Hundreds of these coins are now trading on various exchanges, with only a handful expected to evolve into utility tokens. Those that succeed will inherit a multibillion-dollar untapped market.
The Rise of Utility Tokens
In the past few months, several AI-themed memecoins have gained significant traction, including Goatseus Maximus (GOAT), Turbo (TURBO), Act I: The AI Prophecy (ACT), Zerebro (ZEREBRO), and ai16z (AI16Z). However, these tokens must now justify their high valuations by developing utility.
The Agentic Web
Permissionless blockchain networks are uniquely hospitable for AI agents. These agents can deploy smart contracts, manage on-chain 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," Binance Research said. The AI agent can then use on-chain earnings to buy back tokens, increasing scarcity and value.
From Memecoins to Utility Tokens
The Agentic Web isn’t here yet, but memecoins like ZEREBRO are paving the way. Zerebro is an AI chatbot designed to autonomously create and distribute content across platforms such as Twitter, Warpcast, and Telegram.
Since launching in October, Zerebro has amassed nearly 45,000 X followers. Unlike Truth Terminal, Zerebro minted the eponymous ZEREBRO token itself, purportedly specifying token parameters such as name, symbol, total supply, and distribution mechanisms.
In November, Zerebro launched a record label, rumored to be on sale for $17 million, and is considering a non-fungible token (NFT) collection. Its creators plan to launch decentralized finance protocols — including vaults and lending platforms — led by an AI agent named Eliza.
The Future of Agentic AIs
Agentic AI tokens are still evolving, and they will mostly fail. However, 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.
In conclusion, agentic AIs are transforming the world of Web3, and their impact will be significant. As investors and developers, it’s essential to understand the potential of these agents and the opportunities they present.
About the Author
Alex O’Donnell is a senior writer for Cointelegraph. He previously founded DeFi developer Umami Labs and worked for seven years as a financial journalist at Reuters, where he covered M&A and IPOs. He is also the crypto growth lead at startup accelerator, Expert Dojo.
Disclaimer
This article is for general information purposes and is not intended to be and should not be taken as legal or investment advice. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed here are the author’s alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph.
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