Original title: Launch Your AI Agent Now, Build in Public Along the Way
Original author: ehwangah, Virtuals Ecosystem Development
Original translation: Ismay, BlockBeats
Editor's note: As the leading project in this round of AI cycle, Virtuals has grown from zero to a market value of 2 billion. Behind it is not only the adaptation to the cycle, but also the team's control of the entrepreneurial rhythm, product polishing and market operations. This article is written by ehwangah, a member of Virtuals ecosystem development, about why "immediate launch and public construction" is the best strategy in the current environment. The article not only responds to the most common concerns of new projects, but also provides practical suggestions to help entrepreneurs find their own rhythm in the rapidly developing crypto market.
The following is the original content:
Let me make this clear: in the crypto space, your market value is the primary measure of success. This is not to say that technological innovation, foundational value, PMF, etc., are unimportant, but from the perspective of whether it can bring multiple returns to the team, investors, and holders, whether market value can soar is key. So what should be done?
Launching now and continuously iterating and improving in the public eye is better than overthinking or delaying before the launch.
Additionally, to ease your mind, the success or failure of the launch only accounts for 10%-20% of your long-term success; don’t complicate it. Why? A simple explanation is as follows:
• Over-hyped, no content: the result is a massive pump and dump.
• Low-key launch, no content: launch equals death.
• Over-hyped, solid content: soaring straight to success.
• Low-key launch, solid content: steady growth, everything falls into place.
Do you see the commonalities? The core lies in building a solid foundation (details will be discussed elsewhere, but in short, it refers to the team, product, and community). The litmus test for whether the foundation is solid is: are your close circle willing to be the first to buy, hold, and believe in your project? If they are not convinced, others will be even less so.
Why is launching now important?
1. Validate your idea before investing over $100,000 in development
Instead of spending 3 months or even more time and tens of thousands of dollars meticulously polishing a product, it’s better to launch early and validate your concept.
This is similar to the lean startup approach: first propose a plan that attracts the target audience, validate feasibility, and continuously iterate and improve throughout the process. You might think this approach is unconventional, but it is one of the fastest and most efficient methods to cultivate the first 1,000 loyal followers. These early supporters will become catalysts for the project's momentum, helping it grow in terms of network, resources, and pricing.
The key point is to validate whether your idea holds true through this method, rather than verifying it after wasting a lot of time and money.
2. Use the Lindy effect to solidify your position in the top 50
Do you know why the top 50 projects can consistently occupy the rankings across different cycles? It’s not just because of quality, but also due to the accumulation of time and positioning, which is known as the Lindy effect. Launching early can help you establish a solid foundation in the holder community, eliminate so-called 'weak hands' or 'non-believers', and attract loyal supporters. Here, time is your ally.
If you wait too long, weaker projects may occupy your market position. Once others have seized your narrative, funds, or the minds of users, it becomes exceptionally difficult to make a comeback. You should have seen those PvP fights on X; once investors are fully invested, it's hard to persuade them to switch to so-called 'better projects'.
Especially in the current trend of the AI Agent competition, seizing the opportunity is no longer just 'icing on the cake', but crucial. Everyone is rushing to launch AI agents, and the sooner you establish your position in this ecosystem, the more you can activate and grow with the community, while others can only scramble to catch up.
Whether we want to admit it or not, launching in the crypto space means participating in a 'battle for attention'. Product-led growth is indeed important, but this is usually achieved later. Grabbing attention early and forming a community is essential. Furthermore, issuing tokens is the best tool for you to achieve distribution and alignment of interests, while building projects in the public eye is the second-best tool.
Choosing to launch in the Virtuals ecosystem gives you an additional advantage, as the overall culture itself conveys the signal of 'quality projects', and capital will always flow to quality projects.
3. Instantly form a community and distribution network on the first day
Launching can create buzz; instantly, users on X start writing long articles for you, summarizing your project into 'three main reasons to buy/hold'. This is not only due to the potential for price increases, but because this buzz can inspire community formation. They can help you iterate on the product, conduct Alpha testing, and even contribute development resources. From day one, you will have a group of loyal supporters.
4. Stay ahead of the many VC-supported token TGEs in 2025
In 2025, you may see a trend where many projects delay their launch due to advice, as the long bear market in 2024 led to poor market liquidity and low risk appetite, making it almost impossible for anyone to invest heavily. Then, you will find more projects conducting market activities according to a predictable script:
• Raise a large amount of funds from venture capital;
• Develop a product, then launch GTM activities — points, tasks, KOL collaborations, data ranking, etc.;
• Next is TGE.
So what is your advantage? Fair launch, decentralized spirit, and naturally accumulated community.
Then should we focus on product development first?
While a solid product can indeed bring advantages, it is not the only success factor. For early projects, especially in the still nascent crypto market, team background is key. It can enhance external confidence, making people believe the team will continue to work hard to create value. The reality is that if the crypto industry relied solely on practicality or the product itself, those 'air projects' wouldn’t attract investment. I'm not advocating for 'air projects'; rather, I'm saying that launching early can provide a competitive edge in community building and narrative shaping.
Moreover, product launches are never perfect; there will always be bugs, server overload, concurrency issues, etc. These should not be the focus of attention. With subsequent updates and iterations, the product will naturally prove its value.
Build projects in the public eye
People like to see how a 'small but strong' team creates value through hard work; the narrative itself is important. Users are not merely buying from a 'faceless brand'; they care more about the founders and the story behind the project. Building in the public eye can make your journey more attractive and humanized.
You do not need to present a perfect image on the first day; start early, be authentic, and build in public.
Look at the top 20 in the Virtuals ecosystem; they have successfully won user favor by publicly showcasing their efforts.
Address common concerns
Worried about snipers?
No matter which chain you are on, snipers will exist. But in the Virtuals ecosystem, the unique community culture and the strength of the ecosystem can enhance user retention. In addition, we have solutions for sniper issues and can provide advice. (Relevant content will be released soon)
How to design token economics, Agent launch structure, etc.?
We have witnessed over 100 launch cases and can share some optimization experiences to help achieve your goals. (Relevant content will be released soon)
Is the G.A.M.E framework customizable? Do you have ownership of the tech stack?
The answer is yes! We are preparing more relevant content and are also building our project in a transparent manner. We provide an open-source SDK that can be flexibly integrated into your architecture. If you need more in-depth information, we can communicate on TG.
I don’t want to just launch a speculative AI agent project; I have a business model.
No problem, we also have solutions for this situation. (Relevant content will be released soon)
How to maximize building in the public eye?
We also have related resources and checklist tools available for reference; details can be discussed on TG.
What if I already have existing tokens?
We also have answers in this area. (Relevant content will be released soon)
If there is no product at launch, will others think it's a scam?
Kickstarter projects also did not have a final product at launch; landing pages for collecting emails from potential customers did not have a product, and even MVPs themselves were not the final form, especially in cases of rapid iteration. In addition, your first 1,000 fans will provide the most valuable feedback for your ideas.
What’s the next step?
Launch immediately, build publicly, and don't overthink. If needed, let us know; we can help amplify your journey. You can contact me via TG (@ehwangah), I have a bunch of resources to help you get started quickly.
‘Original link’