Written by: 0xJeff, AI investor
Compiled by: Ismay, BlockBeats
Do you remember the L2 craze of 2022-2023?
The best strategy at that time was to hoard leading DEXs, top lending markets, Solidly fork projects, LSTs, yield optimizers, and so on. Everyone was chasing token launches, participating in airdrop farming, or injecting TVL into L2 platforms like Blast to earn points.
Although it was chaotic at that time, it did work (at least for a few months).
Today, the same enthusiasm is emerging again, but this time, the rules have changed completely.
The Agent ecosystem is reshaping our perception of the market, with a structure completely different from before.
No VC domination
In the L2 era, token distribution always followed a fixed formula:
The team takes 15-30%, VCs and KOLs take 10-30%, and the rest is used for incentives and rewards distribution.
But in the Agent ecosystem, the situation is completely different. Tokens are 100% owned by the community, and the team may reserve 5% for incentives, with the rest freely circulating in the market.
What does this mean?
Everyone has an equal opportunity to participate in purchasing, no longer needing to worry about VC unlocks or insider selling risks. If you want exposure, you need to take on the same market risks as everyone else.
So what about the OTC trading round for KOLs?
Some projects do offer discounted OTC trades, but usually:
Scale is strictly limited;
Priority allocation to partners that align closely with the ecosystem, such as DAOs or influencers who actively support ecosystem development.
This is no longer a model of 'VC lifting the platform, retail investors picking up the pieces', but a fairer, leaner system that truly puts power in the hands of the community.
No trend of 'copy-paste'
At least it wasn't like the DeFi space, where various projects were repeatedly forked from Uniswap to Liquity, with hardly any innovation.
Here, everything revolves around brand new innovations. Developers are not simply copying existing projects but are launching entirely new Agents and application scenarios at a pace that is hard to keep up with.
Why is that?
The iteration speed of AI applications is faster:
No need to spend months auditing;
The launch times for most Agents are measured in weeks, not months;
The entire field is vibrant, experimental, and creative.
Almost every week, something new is exciting, and as AI technology continues to evolve, the narrative of Web3 AI Agents is also continuously evolving.
A brand new user acquisition model
In traditional DeFi, users need to:
Find the project's website;
Take time to understand the product;
Perhaps interact with the product.
And the Agent has completely disrupted this way, presenting products directly to users.
Take @aixbt_agent as an example; it provides valuable information in real-time directly on CT (Crypto Twitter). Users immediately feel the value, generate interest, and explore further. Ultimately, they will purchase tokens to fully unlock product features.
This 'interact first, trade later' funnel model is more effective. With the popularity of on-chain trading Agents and DeFi Agents, this model is expected to dominate before 2025.
Highly curated ecosystem
No longer are there thousands of fragmented L2s and dApps, but rather a tightly connected ecosystem like the following:
@virtuals_io (Base)
@ai16zdao (Solana)
@daosdotworld (Base)
@daosdotfun (Solana)
What's the difference?
Developers are no longer attracted by subsidies or incentive mechanisms; they flow in naturally because there is:
Fair launch token economic model;
Enthusiastic community;
Opportunities to experiment and innovate in an exciting field.
This is the result of combining fair launches with continuous innovation. Developers, investors, and the community drive the growth and development of the ecosystem together.
How to position yourself in this Agent cycle
This feels like the early days of L1—but at a much faster pace. Looking back at 2020-2021, many L1s reached peak valuations of over $100 billion. The same potential exists here.
If you want to position yourself, you can pay attention to the following Agent-related L1s:
$VIRTUAL
$AI16Z
$ZEREBRO
$GRIFFAIN
$BULLY
$ARC
But don't just chase the currently popular projects. Look for:
Underestimated opportunities outside the current narrative;
Teams that move quickly, tell good stories, and can build market recognition.
If you want to know more, you can refer to this guide:
Welcome to the new era
The Agent ecosystem is not just a new L1; it is a completely different market structure—faster, leaner, and more community-driven than ever before.
We are entering a cycle that could reshape how Web3 innovation operates, and the journey towards valuations exceeding $100 billion has just begun.
Welcome aboard, friends; it will be an exciting journey!
