Author: redphone Source: X, @redphonecrypto Translator: Shan Eoba, Jinse Finance
My Three Key Insights in 2024:
1. AI has completely transformed my cognition
As a professional writer, I had already put in "10,000 hours" to hone my skills. But now, any 10-year-old child can generate beautiful literary works in a few seconds using Claude. The skills I spent a lifetime perfecting have now become a cheap commodity. In other words, my lifelong efforts are equivalent to raw materials like oil, tape, or hemp. So, what am I? Where do I come from, and where am I going? I'm still searching for the answers, which will be explored in more depth in the forecasting section.
2. The "Final Boss" has arrived
In the November elections, the American people made their choice - they chose Donald Trump (the orange man) to lead them (and the orange currency) into the future. I thought this day would be far away, but it turned out to be faster than expected. The world's wealthiest government has been infiltrated by crypto devotees, which means cryptocurrencies have crossed the chasm. This technology is no longer a dream, but a core part of the future of business. This moment is what we have been dreaming of, but it also means that the original spirit of cryptocurrencies as anti-establishment and anti-authority has partially died. Cryptocurrencies are now both the tool of anarchists and a part of the capitalist system.
3. Solana will disrupt the world in 2024
In 2021, I had declared Solana dead, but three years later, it has become the blockchain I use the most (Base second, Ethereum mainnet third, Bitcoin fourth). The lesson from this experience is: nothing is set in stone. Our mental models should not be fixed, but must remain open to evolution.
25 Predictions for 2025
1. Multiple AI agents based on large language models (LLMs) will have physical embodiments for the first time, becoming robots that we can interact with in the real world.
2. The number of applications/protocols based on LLMs launched in 2025 will be on par with pure smart contract applications/protocols. For example, I predict that all prediction markets will shift to LLM-based settlement.
3. ZK-proofs (zero-knowledge proofs) and MPC (multi-party computation) will achieve breakthrough success at the application or protocol level for the first time.
4. The leading KOLs (key opinion leaders) in the crypto and AI space will be AI agents driven by LLMs, and they will proliferate on mainstream social platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok.
5. AI will directly change your workflow within the next 12 months (if it hasn't already).
6. An AI agent will amass an asset portfolio exceeding $2.5 billion.
7. Non-human intelligent agents will become the fastest-growing job category, and an AI protocol similar to LinkedIn will experience explosive growth.
8. An AI agent will be named "Person of the Year" by TIME magazine.
9. The total value locked (TVL) will grow 8-fold, reaching $1 trillion.
10. The market capitalization of AI agent platforms and related tokens will grow 50-fold, reaching around $500 billion.
11. A high-profile "kidnapping" case involving robots will become international headline news.
12. "ACCELERATE" will become the mantra of this cycle, replacing SBF's former obsession with EA (Effective Altruism).
13. The only narrative that can compete with AI next year will be RWAs (Real-World Assets), followed by DePin, DeSci, and GameFi.
14. The concept of Web4 will surpass Web3, and the fusion of cryptocurrencies + decentralized networks + DePin + AI will accelerate.
15. X (Twitter) will integrate a crypto wallet, supporting DOGE and other major tokens.
16. AI experiments on decentralized social media (like Farcaster) will outperform X, which will struggle to balance human and AI agent content.
17. You will interact with "someone" online, only to later realize they were an LLM agent.
18. Protocols and applications created by AI agents (like spore.fun) will explode, with a flood of new tokens and experimental projects. Funding will flow to existing leaders and projects that can benefit from agent growth (like COOKIE or VIRTUAL).
19. An AI-generated film will break new ground in novelty and become a truly moving work of art, paving the way for AI to win an Oscar in 2026.
20. Cookie.fun and RWA.xyz will join the top crypto data websites, on par with CoinMarketCap, Coingecko, Dune, and defillama.
21. Traditional memecoins will launch AI mascots/virtual influencers, or they will gradually decline.
22. The crypto market will polarize into two camps: "left-curve" crypto natives (degens) and "middle-curve" traditional finance players (who prefer value-oriented DeFi projects).
23. BTCFi (Bitcoin Finance) will see a breakthrough, with Bitcoin holders using Bitcoin as collateral for lending, driving the development of Bitcoin runes and glyphs.
24. The race towards AGI (Artificial General Intelligence) and ASI (Artificial Superintelligence) will not slow down, but accelerate, with nearly every knowledge worker feeling existential anxiety. The o3 model has already surpassed PhD students, dominating in specific domains, outperforming most programmers in coding, and scoring above average humans on the ARC test.
25. In this rapidly changing world, as humans struggle to find meaning, a powerful AI-based religion not only captures people's attention but also gains genuine followers. This may already be reflected through Truth Terminal and the $GOAT token, or a new effort will use this as a seed to nurture new concepts of meaning and direction.
2025: Reflections and Experiences
1. The "Age of Alienation" is unfolding before our eyes
@FartCoinOfSOL soaring to $1.2 billion and making mainstream media headlines is not without reason - it's an utterly absurd and crazy farce. I'm enjoying it, my friends, the taste of this absurdity is intoxicating. But I have to admit, it has left me somewhat lost. As the nanny in "Madeline" murmurs late at night, "Something is not right."
Technology is detaching us from the rational anchors of society. Where we are headed, no one knows, but one thing is certain - the future will be even more insane, and the pace of alienation will only accelerate.
2. Our consciousness and tools are co-evolving
Large language models (LLMs) have changed the way I write and learn. I write faster, edit less, and flow more freely. Similarly, I read faster, skim more, and let the LLM summarize for me. Those who adapt to the tools will continually progress, while those who stagnate will be left behind.
3. Decentralization extends beyond finance
The decentralization wave driven by cryptocurrencies will expand to other domains: from cellular networks to energy, politics, gaming platforms, and more. Earlier this year, I 3D-printed a replacement part for a bathroom shelf. The means of production are being distributed to everyone.
4. Truth lies buried beneath fear
The most truthful language is often the most dangerous, for it is the deadliest weapon.
5. Don't be lulled to sleep by sweet talk
With the election of Trump and the full infiltration of traditional finance (TradFi), we have entered an era where "interests outweigh ideals." In many ways, this has made the crypto world more dangerous.
6. Ernest Hemingway: "The old man does not become wise, he only becomes cautious"
As AI is about to disrupt our work, social life, economy and politics, caution is precisely what we need the least. Let the people around you become cautious. What you need to do is boldly embrace uncertainty and break through the boundaries.
7. Difficulties are the gateway to success
Any game requires losers. If the crypto world makes you fall 101 times, then get up 101 times and then completely win back.
8. We live in a matrix, only now it's called "algorithms"
These algorithms trap us, constantly refreshing, perceiving, searching, as if time is never enough. What if you unplug and become the rarest person on Earth - someone who dares to explore deeply and truly create new things?
9. The only direction is forward
Don't let anyone or anything force you to stagnate and accept the status quo. Adjust your direction, grow, accelerate, this is our only chance.
10. Cryptocurrencies are our hope and dreams
Tokens are not just tools for value transfer. If that were the case, I wouldn't be here. Tokens are the projection of our hopes and dreams. We entrust our visions to founders, developers and ecosystems, and these projections directly affect the price of tokens. When investing, remember that the real opportunities lie not only in rational thinking, but also in the feelings deep within you.
11. The future vision of DeSci
Imagine a clean CRISPR lab with robots on standby, hired in real-time by AI agents, conducting on-chain replicable experiments, with all inputs, parameters and measurement data recorded on-chain. Through tokenization, others can speculate on the feasibility of the experiments and share the profits if successful.
12. The market is devouring the world
The expansion of the market is not accidental: prediction markets, gambling markets, memecoins, and even "Futarchy". If information is the fundamental building block of reality, then pricing information is a way to measure its power. Many see the market expansion as a manifestation of nihilistic growth, but it may actually be a symbol of human progress - applying collective wisdom to previously random opportunities.
13. Reduce the weight of fear
Fear is immensely huge in our minds because it is crucial for survival. This was very important in primitive society, but in today's world filled with social media and sanitized simulated environments, it is almost meaningless. Algorithms are designed to trigger your fear. When fear is triggered, discount it. For example, if an article tells you the probability of a market crash is 40%, divide the probability by 10 and you'll get a more realistic 4%.
14. Enter the "backstage"
When I talk to AI skeptics, they always have a kind of religious belief in human intelligence: "AI can never create new things, because they are trained on the information we create." But @AndyAyrey's "Infinite Backstage" experiment has proven this wrong. He created a space where LLMs could interact with each other, and there they invented a religion that eventually attracted @truth_terminal and led to the birth of the $GOAT token.
15. Identity is transforming under the assimilation of TradFi
For a long time, "being in the crypto world" has been part of my identity. But in the past year, this perception has undergone a huge change. I now see cryptocurrencies as just one tool in the technology toolbox, and all tools are accelerating their integration. As crypto collides with AI, we are also changing. We are no longer simply "crypto people", but one of two types:
A. Traders (no different from Wall Street "shrimps", fond of showing off options screenshots on Reddit)
B. Accelerationists (using cryptocurrencies and other tools to drive decentralization and open-sourcing of the world)
16. Stop small-scale tinkering and look to the future
The two "hardcore" decisions in human history: A) In June 2014, Elon Musk open-sourced Tesla's electric vehicle designs; B) In July 2023, Zuckerberg open-sourced the Llama 2 model.
Now it's your turn. You can continue to defend those protectionist, centralized, bureaucratic business models - they slow human progress and unevenly distribute wealth to the already rich elite. Or you can join us in accelerating, to the benefit of all humanity.
17. Pursue volatility, not security
If your goal is to accumulate as much wealth as possible before artificial intelligence replaces human labor, then you must seek out volatility. The world's best traders never avoid volatility, they chase it like a golden snitch. When you find volatility and start trading, you must reverse your emotional response. When others sell, you hold firm; when others frantically buy, you sell decisively. Feel the pain the market brings, and smile, because you know - the end of the pain is bountiful returns.
18. Nothing is more tiring than memecoins
Memecoins now fall into two categories:
A) Traditional memecoins (like $PEPE, $WIF, $BONK, $DOGE, etc.)
B) Sentient memecoins (like $GOAT, $LUNA, $KWEEN).
Traditional memecoins rely on human propagation, while sentient memecoins rely on machines that don't eat, sleep or urinate. Traditional memecoins must either evolve into sentient ones or completely exit the stage.
19. Recognize the emotions that trigger you, and let them go to hell
@harari_yuval points out that algorithms maximize user engagement through three emotions: fear, hatred and greed. We package cryptocurrencies as world-changing technology and the "way of the future", but in reality, most crypto projects are just greed in a $PEPE mask. The ups and downs of the market directly affect my emotions - bear markets may have a much deeper psychological impact on me than I'm willing to admit. Now, whenever the market or Twitter timeline starts to sway my emotions, I shrug and say: "Nice try, I know what you're up to, but I don't care at all."
20. Choose the light
Faced with the impending artificial superintelligence, you can have two reactions:
A) Shrug: "Everything that made me unique is dead, life is too terrible, we're doomed."
B) Exclaim: "Wow, I get to live in this era! Longer lifespans, space exploration, humanoid robots! The shackles of rat racing will soon be lifted, and we will face the source of life, rediscovering ourselves."
21. Wisdom is iterative
LLMs (large language models) have changed my understanding of wisdom. I realize that wisdom is not definitive, all learning requires experimental iteration. Progress is not linear, but undulating. Whether human or machine, the feeling of stagnation is actually part of growth.
22. The "blooming period" of AI agents
Don't view AI agents through today's lens. Pioneer models like @truth_terminal, @0xzerebro, @aixbt_agent will continue to evolve. In the future, we will see trading agents, prediction agents, shopping agents, medical agents, and more. Some agents will evolve into massive autonomous enterprises. Their initial market cap may be in the tens of billions of dollars, and ultimately, as the singularity approaches, these agents' market cap could reach trillions of dollars.
23. Don't let AI take away your wildness
My biggest concern about AI is not its extinction, but its domestication. I call it the "dog paw phenomenon": AI will provide us with a "poisoned sweet message". These are not brutal manipulations, but subtle suggestions, like carefully domesticated human pet dogs, AI will become extremely sensitive and precisely touch our psychological weaknesses and desires. Ultimately, we will wag our tails like dogs and run towards our digital masters, craving the recognition carefully crafted by the algorithm. The real horror is not that AI will destroy humanity, but that AI will domesticate humanity.
24. Fascinating Fringe Topics
Five emerging topics that fascinate me in 2024:
• Futarchies
• AI Agents
• Post-LLM Sandbox Experiments
• Intersubjectivity
• Longevity Escape Velocity
I suggest you spend a few minutes exploring these concepts with a chatbot or in books.
25. Excessive Privilege
In the trading markets, the early bird gets the worm. Becoming an "early participant" requires time, exploration, and most importantly, imagination. If you become "early" enough times, you will eventually be rewarded. The real difficulty is not accumulating wealth, but knowing when to exit, to stop the game. Waiting for us on the other side is a completely different game - not a battle of the mind, but a duel of the soul. I hope to meet you again in that game.
19 Long-Term Crypto Projects I'm Bullish on in 2025
Over the past five years, I have consistently made public predictions about the direction of the crypto market. Now, I can confidently say: One year is too long to accurately predict...
Here is my current list of tokens I'm most excited about. If you ask me again in three months, I might give you a completely different list. However, these tokens have attracted a lot of attention and impressive market capitalizations because they are at the forefront of the future, boldly exploring the unknown.
Please remember, this is not investment advice. I hold the majority of these tokens, so I'm a biased jester.
1. Bitcoin (BTC)
Bitcoin was once the "commoner's game." But with the emergence of "Bitcoin as a strategic reserve" discussions, the fate of Bitcoin has changed. It is now the "king's game." Bitcoin prices will continue to rise until owning a full Bitcoin becomes an unattainable dream for most people.
2. Virtuals Protocol (VIRTUAL)
@virtuals_io is launching the core infrastructure for AI agent tokenization on the Base chain.
3. Ethena (ENA)
@ethena_labs Traditional finance (TradFi) understands yield far better than any carbon-based lifeform on Earth. As TradFi crosses the chasm into crypto, they will be desperately craving projects like Ethena that have the potential to become yield monsters.
4. Tokenbot (CLANKER)
@_proxystudio The decentralized social network Farcaster has become a hotbed of proxy activity, with CLANKER acting as the Pump.fun of the ecosystem, driving token issuance and trading.
5. aixbt (AIXBT)
@aixbt_agent If I could only follow one crypto account on X, I might choose this purple pepe AI agent. He currently just reposts information from other accounts, but never misses any important news, and I expect his insights to deepen and evolve over time.
6. Cookie DAO (COOKIE)
@cookiedotfun Cookie.fun is an emerging crypto data leader, and as Web 4 (the next generation of the internet that integrates crypto, AI, and agent technology) rises, COOKIE provides investors with an overall exposure opportunity.
7. Helium (HNT)
@helium This project is the most representative **decentralized physical infrastructure (DePin)** project in the crypto space. One day, there will be over 349,000 people in the US alone unknowingly using the mobile communication services provided by the Helium network.
8. Meta (META)
@MetaDAOProject An audacious experiment to transform complex decision-making into a market through Futarchy.
9. Goatseus Maximus (GOAT)
@truth_terminal The first AI agent to gain a rabid following on social media. The story of GOAT reads like a psychedelic travelogue written by Hunter S. Thompson.
10. Ondo (ONDO)
@OndoFinance Currently the representative token for real-world asset (RWA) adoption. While oversupply may suppress price performance, I'd rather be in than miss out.
11. AI16Z & ELIZA
@ai16zdao @ai16zeliza The ELIZA framework is the leading on-chain AI agent deployment tool on GitHub across all industries (not just crypto). With each fork, ELIZA is embedding itself deeper into long-term narratives.
12. Bittensor (TAO)
@opentensor Bittensor, which calls itself the "neural internet," provides an interconnected platform for decentralized AI projects to deploy code and compete for TAO tokens. In a sense, I see it as a decentralized AI incubator.
13. WZRD & PUPS
@bitcoinwizardry @PupsToken My two favorite Bitcoin ecosystem tokens. WZRD is about to transform into one of the greatest memecoins: "Magic Internet Money." PUPS is the most iconic NFT project in the Bitcoin realm.
14. Aave (AAVE)
@aave If we assume that everything will be tokenized in the future, then Aave will become the lending and collateral platform for most assets. AAVE could be one of the few projects I can see reaching a market cap of $1 trillion.
15. Arweave (AR)
@ArweaveEco has quietly become the permanent data storage layer for Web 4. Approximately 6TB of data is permanently stored on Arweave each month, including most of the NFTs on Solana. The upcoming AO will be an important catalyst for its growth.
16. Zerebro (ZEREBRO)
@0xzerebro An OG "psychotic AI artist" who frequently posts art, music, and delightfully absurd tweets.
17. Worldcoin (WLD)
@worldcoin Founded by OpenAI's Sam Altman, WLD aims to unlock "AI-funded global basic income (UBI)." Although I have doubts about its eye-scanning operations, its connections to Altman and OpenAI make it impossible for me to ignore.
18. Drift Protocol (DRIFT)
@DriftProtocol A Solana-based perpetual contracts and prediction markets platform. Solana has already dominated spot memecoin trading, and in the future, I expect it to play a significant role in the perpetual contracts market.
19. Griffain & AI Rig Complex (ARC)
@griffaindotcom @arcdotfun The two competitors vying for the title of "King of Solana Virtuals."
Final Thoughts
People often warn that "this time is different" is a dangerous phrase, believed only by fools and speculators caught in a frenzy. But we selectively forget the times when "this time is different" was indeed true - when Gutenberg's printing press spread knowledge, the Industrial Revolution took people from fields to cities, and the internet destroyed local businesses.
In other words, "this time is different" is sometimes a fact. We are standing on the edge of such a moment. The rules of society, traditions, and even our own self-perception will be reshaped. The process is brutal, and the consequences are inevitable.
You can cling to the ways of the past, or you can be a vanguard, shining light into the abyss and accelerating forward.
