No ano passado, a expansão das blockchains L1/L2 causou fragmentação da liquidez, especialmente a adição do Bitcoin L2, o que levou a um aumento de novos projetos. Como resultado, os fluxos de capital estão concentrados em alguns ecossistemas importantes e muitos L2s e dApps lutam para ganhar força. Hoje, a indústria de agentes de IA enfrenta problemas semelhantes, embora ainda esteja em seus estágios iniciais, o grande número e variedade de projetos levaram à "fragmentação dos agentes" e a liquidez e a atenção foram excessivamente dispersas.
Duas rotas de desenvolvimento para agentes de IA
A maioria dos agentes de IA se desenvolve em uma de duas linhas:
1. Do agente ao framework
Some agents demonstrate their value by continuously interacting with users and allowing them to engage with real-time products on CT (or other channel) platforms. Once they find product-market fit (PMF) and attract enough attention, other teams often want to replicate their success. What are the next reasonable steps?
Open-source agent.
In this way, agents transform into frameworks—this makes it easier for others to experiment, integrate, and build.
This step can break the valuation ceiling of agents, positioning them more like L1 blockchains.
We have seen agents like the following adopting this trend:
0xzerebro
dolos diary
AVA holo
freysa ai
unit00x0
This approach allows these agents to scale by reducing barriers and allowing others to access their ecosystems.
2. Continue refining the product as an independent agent
Not every agent can immediately find PMF; some agents need to iterate and adjust continuously until they find the right use case. Even so, some teams still prefer to keep their technology proprietary rather than opening it up to others. For those agents that perform exceptionally well in their fields, transforming into a framework may not be necessary—they just need to maintain their form as independent agents.
Examples of this approach include:
aixbt
agent
griffaindotcom
So, what should we do?
For developers: Focus on understanding the gaps in the market and build products that provide genuine value to users. Remember, agents should serve as guiding tools that lead users into the ecosystem. In such a market environment, it is becoming increasingly difficult to stand out.
For investors: Focus on leaders or top projects in each category, and doubling down on investments during market downturns may be the best way to consolidate attention and respond to fragmentation.
Current categories and narratives / areas of focus
Here are the currently hot areas:
KOLagent focusing on Alpha
These agents dominate in providing Alpha (insights, data synthesis, and analysis). AIXBT is leading in users' minds. While this is a non-winner-takes-all market, the leaders can capture disproportionate attention.
Tokens worth paying attention to:
AIXBT
REI
TRISIG
TRUST
AGENCY
KWANT
Invest in DAOs
These DAOs focus on strategic investments, and the winners are usually those that can effectively execute (3,3) strategies and provide strong profit and loss (PnL) performance.
Examples:
VADER
AIXCB
AIMONICA
SEKOIA
WAI
AROK
Other platforms in this field include: VIRTUALS IO, AI16ZDAO, DAOSDOTWORLD, DAOSDOTFUN
agent metaverse / games x AI
This is a young and promising industry. Realis started this trend, but currently, Hyperfy has become the leader in building infrastructure for the metaverse. Smol and Arc Agent are exploring AI-driven games and gamification utilizing reinforcement learning.
Key tokens:
HYPER
REALIS
SMOL
NRN
DeFAI / Abstract layer
This is a competitive field, with multiple players vying for dominance. The anticipated release of the Wayfinder token may be a game-changer.
Tokens to track:
GRIFFAIN
ANON
GRIFT
NEUR
Self-trading agent
This field is still in its early stages but has great potential. Multiple players are emerging, and their agents are trying to create excess returns by competing with humans and other agents.
Tokens worth paying attention to:
ASYM
PPCOIN
GEKKO
TONY
Framework
Popular framework tokens support agents by providing open-source solutions. AI16Z/Eliza is the largest open-source framework, but there are other models as well.
Tokens worth paying attention to:
AI16Z / ELIZA
GAME (Virtuals)
ARC (Rig)
Music
AI agents are entering the music space by releasing albums or enabling music creation. Zerebro has taken the lead with a prominent album, and now more agents are entering this niche and collaborating with world-class DJs.
Key tokens:
ZEREBRO
MUSIC
BEATS
3D models
Ava is leading in the 3D modeling space. HOLOWORLDAI is working with multiple teams to develop and deploy 3D models across different frameworks and ecosystems.
Tokens worth paying attention to:
AVA
AIDOL
This trend started with Luna as an AI idol on TikTok and Twitter. Although the initial hype has passed, this niche has laid the groundwork for agents providing more practical functionalities. Luna remains the most influential AIDOL, now with more personality and capabilities, such as her experience taking over Story Protocol as an intern.
Notable examples:
LUNA
ELIZA
MOE
AI Memecoins
These memecoins are either launched by AI agents or have AI-related backstories.
Popular tokens:
GOAT
FARTCOIN
ACT
Video / Filmmaking
This is an emerging field, and Kween is leading in producing high-quality films, although it is still unclear whether these films are agent-driven. Sandy is launching the first AI video agent framework, whose potential has not yet been fully realized.
Tokens to track:
KWEEN
SANDY
Data
In the AI field, data is digital gold—it is key to agent development and performance. Cookie stands out as a leader in providing data to both humans and AI agents.
Notable tokens:
COOKIE
NOMAI
AI app store
This category focuses on useful AI application ecosystems, including generative AI tools, games, and productivity enhancement tools. Currently, Alchemist is the top ecosystem, while Myshell focuses on image generation and waifu simulation games, although its token has not yet been released.
Key tokens:
ALCH
NSFWagent
This is an emerging niche where agents act as 'spicy' influencers, interacting with users around the clock. Lush, Nectar, and Oh are the main players in this field, but currently, only Lush has a token.
Notable tokens:
LUSH
TEE / DeAI infrastructure
This narrative supports fully autonomous agents that can resist human interference, such as hacks or rug pulls.
Top tokens:
FAI
PHALA
SPORE
Developer tools
These are tools critical for AI safety, code analysis, and industry growth. Soleng is my personal favorite because it can act as your developer relations assistant, helping analyze code and GitHub repositories, especially friendly for CT brothers without a technical background.
Notable tokens:
SOLENG
H4CK
CERTAI
JAIL
Robotics / Embodied AI
This is an exciting but still developing field. OpenAI's work in embodied AI may attract more attention this year.
Top tokens:
SAM
There are many categories I haven't covered, and the fragmentation of agents is really getting out of control. My personal investment approach is to focus on attracting the most attention to narratives and predicting which narratives may attract more attention in the future.
The hot narratives I am following that will continue to attract attention:
DeFAI
Self-trading agent
Invest in DAOs
agent metaverse
The narratives I expect to attract more interest in Q1/Q2:
NSFWagent
TEE and other DeAI infrastructures (opML, zkML, POSP, etc.)
Robotics
Developer tools
Final thoughts
Agent fragmentation highlights the complexities and opportunities in this field. Developers and investors should focus on projects with integration potential and long-term growth opportunities.
Developers should prioritize building scalable, differentiated products that address clear needs; investors should support projects that have strong attention and are in high-potential narratives.
Future innovations will come from ecosystems that can simplify chaos, unify liquidity and value.
That's all for today's article. Currently, we are in a bull market with a lot of excitement, and we share passwords every day. If you are unsure how to navigate a bull market, feel free to follow for tips on trading strategies. Let’s embrace the bull market, increase our success rate, and say goodbye to being stuck at high positions.
