Article source: BlockBeats
Author: 0xJeff, AI investor
Translator: Ismay, BlockBeats
Do you remember the hype of L2 in 2022-2023?
At that time, the best strategy was to hoard leading DEXs, top lending markets, Solidly fork projects, LSTs, yield optimizers, and so on. Everyone was chasing token issuance, participating in airdrops, or injecting TVL into L2 platforms like Blast to earn points.
Although that period was chaotic, it did work (at least for a few months).
Today, the same enthusiasm has emerged 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 the past.
No VC dominance
In the L2 era, token distribution always follows a fixed formula:
Teams take 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 entirely different. Tokens are 100% owned by the community, with the team possibly reserving 5% for incentives, while the rest circulates freely in the market.
What does this mean?
Everyone has an equal opportunity to participate in purchases without worrying about the risks of VC unlocks or insider sell-offs. If you want exposure, you need to bear the same market risks as others.
So what about the off-market trading rounds for KOLs?
Some projects do offer discounted OTC trading, but usually:
Scale is strictly limited;
Priority allocation to partners that align closely with the ecosystem, such as DAOs or influencers actively supporting ecosystem development.
This is no longer the model of 'VC lifting the sedan, retail investors taking over', but a fairer, streamlined system that truly puts power in the hands of the community.
No 'copy-paste' trend
At least not like in the DeFi space, where projects are repeatedly forked from Uniswap to Liquity with almost no innovation.
Here, everything revolves around new innovations. Developers are not simply replicating existing projects but are launching entirely new Agents and applications at an astonishing pace.
Why is this happening?
The iteration speed of AI applications is faster:
No need to spend months on audits;
The launch time for most Agents is counted in weeks, not months;
The entire field is vibrant, experimental, and creative.
Exciting new things happen almost every week, and with the continuous development of AI technology, the narrative of Web3 AI Agents is also 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.
The Agent has completely disrupted this method, presenting products directly to users.
Take @aixbt_agent as an example, which provides valuable information in real-time 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 proliferation of on-chain trading Agents and DeFi Agents, this model is expected to dominate before 2025.
Highly curated ecosystem
No longer thousands of fragmented L2s and dApps, but closely connected ecosystems like the following:
@virtuals_io (Base)
@ai16zdao (Solana)
@daosdotworld (Base)
@daosdotfun (Solana)
What's different?
Developers are no longer attracted by subsidies or incentive mechanisms; they flow in naturally because there is:
Fair launch token economic models;
An 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 work together to drive the growth and development of the ecosystem.
How to position yourself in this Agent cycle
It felt like the early days of L1—only at a much faster pace. Looking back at 2020-2021, many L1s reached peak valuations of over a hundred billion dollars. The same potential exists here.
If you want to position yourself, you can follow 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 scope;
Teams that move quickly, are good at storytelling, and can build market awareness.
If you want to know more, you can refer to this guide:
Welcome to a new era
The Agent ecosystem is not just a new L1; it is a completely different market structure—faster, more streamlined, and more community-driven than ever before.
We are entering a cycle that could reshape how Web3 innovation operates, and the journey toward a valuation of over a hundred billion dollars has just begun.
Welcome aboard, friends, it will be an exciting journey!
