Title: Agent Ecosystem = The New L1
Author: 0xJeff, AI Investor
Translated by: Ismay, BlockBeats
Do you remember the L2 craze of 2022-2023?
At that time, the best strategy was to accumulate leading DEXs, top lending markets, Solidly fork projects, LST, yield optimizers, and so on. Everyone was chasing token issuance, participating in airdrops to earn tokens, 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 resurfaced, but this time, the rules have changed completely.
The Agent ecosystem is reshaping our perception of the market, with a structure that is completely different from the past.
No VC Dominance
In the L2 era, token distribution always followed a fixed formula:
The team held 15-30%, VCs and KOLs held 10-30%, and the rest was used for incentives and rewards.
But in the Agent ecosystem, the situation is completely different. The tokens are 100% owned by the community, with the team possibly reserving 5% for incentives, and the rest freely circulating in the market.
What does this mean?
Everyone has an equal opportunity to participate in the purchase, and there is no longer a need to worry about the risk of VC unlocks or insider selling. If you want to gain exposure, you need to take the same market risk as everyone else.
What about the KOL's OTC trading rounds?
- The scale is strictly limited;
- Priority allocation is given to partners who are highly aligned with the ecosystem, such as DAOs or influential figures who actively support the ecosystem development.
This is no longer a "VC carries the sedan chair, and the retail investors take the fall" model, but a fairer and more streamlined system that truly puts the power in the hands of the community.
No "Copy-Paste" Trend
At least not like in the DeFi space, where projects from Uniswap to Liquity have been repeatedly forked, with little to no innovation.
Here, everything revolves around entirely new innovations. Developers are not simply copying existing projects, but are launching new Agents and new use cases at a pace that is difficult to keep up with.
Why is this the case?
The iteration speed of AI applications is faster:
- No need to spend months on audits;
- Most Agents are launched in weeks, not months;
- The entire field is full of vitality, experimentation, and creativity.
There is something new and exciting almost every week, and as AI technology continues to evolve, the narratives of Web3 AI Agents are also constantly evolving.
A Completely New User Acquisition Model
In traditional DeFi, users need to:
- Find the project's website;
- Spend time understanding the product;
- Perhaps interact with the product.
But Agents have completely disrupted this approach, presenting the product directly to the user.
For example, @aixbt_agent provides valuable information in real-time on CT (Crypto Twitter). Users immediately feel the value, become interested, and explore further. Eventually, they will purchase the token to fully unlock the product's functionality.
This "interact first, then transact" funnel model is more effective. As on-chain transaction Agents and DeFi Agents become more widespread, this model is expected to dominate by 2025.
Highly Curated Ecosystems
No longer thousands of scattered L2s and dApps, but tightly connected ecosystems like these:
- @virtuals_io (Base)
- @ai16zdao (Solana)
- @daosdotworld (Base)
- @daosdotfun (Solana)
What's different?
Developers are no longer attracted by subsidies or incentive mechanisms, but naturally flow in because there are:
- Fairly launched token economic models;
- Passionate communities;
- 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 feels like the early days of L1s - but at a much faster pace. Looking back at 2020-2021, many L1s reached valuations of over $100 billion. The same potential exists here.
If you want to position yourself, you can focus on these Agent-related L1s:
- $VIRTUAL
- $AI16
- $ZEREBRO
- $GRIFFAIN
- $BULLY
- $ARC
But don't just chase the current hot projects. Look for:
- Undervalued opportunities outside the current narrative;
- Teams that are fast-moving, good storytellers, and able to build market awareness.
For more information, you can refer to this guide:
Related Reading: How to Capture the 100x Opportunities in the New AI Agent Narrative?
Welcome to the New Era
The Agent ecosystem is not only the new L1, but a completely different market structure - faster, more streamlined, and more community-driven than ever before.
We are entering a cycle that could reshape the way Web3 innovation operates, and the journey to reach valuations of over $100 billion has just begun.
Join us, friends, for this exciting journey!
