1.3 Some Thoughts on AI Agents
The current AI Agent craze can be compared to the DeFi boom period of 2020-2021, with blockchain-related data showing a similar pre-ignition trend. However, "Blockchain + AI" has not yet ignited an "AI Summer" like DeFi did. From a blockchain perspective, Base and Solana have become the main battlegrounds, with high performance and high heat being the key drivers of AI Agent. There are numerous projects in the market, with a focus on computing power, infrastructure, Meme, Launch platforms, and application layers.
Compared to market hype, AI Agents have more value in real data analysis scenarios. For example, in early January 2024 after Trump's inauguration, attempts were made to analyze some blockchain and market data to explore the potential reasons for his change in attitude towards cryptocurrencies and the possible cooperation with other financial groups, in order to predict the subsequent policy strength towards cryptocurrencies.
AI's logic is based on data and proper guidance, and blockchain has a natural advantage in combining with AI due to its on-chain data transparency. Therefore, from a trend perspective, blockchain can be considered the best "incubator" for AI development. The on-chain opportunities for AI Agents have both FOMO sentiment and implied value investment; and the current Meme heat around AI Agents suggests that there may be more real "Blockchain + AI" applications in the future. The current expectations are mainly focused on the following five aspects:
- The heat driven by a16z: Sustained price increases are likely to trigger FOMO sentiment in the AI Agent market;
- The self-evolving attribute of AI Agents: Shifting from human development to autonomous project incubation;
- Projects like AIXBT that analyze Twitter discussions and market trends to provide investors with perspectives similar to KOLs;
- The great success of Virtuals after its launch in 2023, with a similar approach to Pump.fun;
- AI virtual characters and AI art have already matured outside the crypto space, and in the future, "brand ambassadors" may no longer be human, but products with AI characteristics, and the "Blockchain + AI" narrative will create more cross-industry opportunities.
2. DeSci: The "War Chariot" of Biotechnology
2.1 What is DeSci?
If AI Agents are the inevitable product of technological evolution, then DeSci is the catalyst for recent hot topics. DeSci (Decentralized Science) uses Web3 technology to build a fair and equal research infrastructure, aiming to solve problems in the scientific research field such as peer review, funding, intellectual property management, data transparency and audit mechanisms, and introducing the speculative attributes of crypto into the non-speculative field of research.
Although DeSci came into the public eye in 2021 with the establishment of VitaDAO, it was not until Binance Labs invested in and launched the BIO Protocol, and CZ and Vitalik attended an offline DeSci conference in Bangkok, that the industry's attention was focused on it again.
2.2 BioDAO Protocol
Source: bio.xyz
BIO Protocol is a decentralized science (DeSci) "curation and liquidity" protocol, initially funded by Binance Labs, aimed at providing resources for research projects and promoting scientific innovation.
The core components of the protocol include:
- BioDAO
- Curation system
- Intellectual property tokenization and liquidity mechanism
- Incentive mechanism
Through multiple rounds of auctions and airdrop plans, the BIO Protocol has formed a highly participatory and diversified community, laying the foundation for establishing a decentralized biomedical research network.
The protocol mainly raises funds through the sale of tokens to support the development of biotechnology projects and enable the shared ownership of intellectual property among its members. According to official information, BioDAO: Launch has successfully established 7 sub-DAOs, with another 3 under construction.
The 7 sub-DAOs that have been launched are:
- VITA (VitaDAO): Focuses on early-stage anti-aging research; previously received investment from Pfizer, and co-founder Paul Kohlhaas is the founder and whitepaper author of VitaDAO.
- ATH (AthenaDAO): Focuses on women's reproductive health research and drug development.
- GROW (ValleyDAO): A decentralized community governance platform for anti-aging drugs and longevity projects.
- PSY (PsyDAO): Focuses on psychedelic science research, completed its first token sale in November 2024 and raised $2 million.
- HAIR (HairDAO): Dedicated to solving hair loss issues, with its Follicool shampoo priced at $49.95 per bottle, and buyers can receive 1 million POO tokens.
- CRYO (CryoDAO): Promotes research in the field of cryobiology.
- NEURON (CerebrumDAO): Focuses on brain health research, having raised over $1.5 million.
The 3 sub-DAOs under construction are:
- Long Covid Labs: Focuses on research on long-term COVID-19 symptoms;
- QuantumBioDAO: Focuses on quantum biology research;
- Curetopia: Dedicated to genetic disease research.
2.3 PumpScience
Molecule DAO, a DeSci platform on Solana, launched the Meme-launch platform Pump.science at the 2024 Solana Breakpoint conference, which will issue Meme tokens representing drugs on Pump.fun. The related concept tokens include:
- RIF: Rifampicin, an antibiotic that has attracted attention for its significant effects on aging;
- URO: Urolithin A, produced by the body when consuming foods rich in tannins (such as pomegranates);
- TRACKEDBIO: Aims to significantly improve the translation efficiency from preclinical to clinical trials by more accurately simulating the potential effects of drugs on different organisms and even humans.
2.4 Other Related Projects
- Scihub: An unofficial token donated by @0xAA_Science to support the open-source academic paper website Sci-Hub, used only for community Memes.
- ANTI & PRO: A pair of quantum entangled tokens expressing different attitudes towards Meme coins, created by algorithm engineer and mathematical physicist @sshmatrix_. One $ANTI = one $PRO, and their prices fluctuate together.
- WORM: The first on-chain digital brain, deploying a biological neural network to the blockchain for self-decision making, inspired by the 302-neuron structure of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans.
- GENOME: A genomics project that uses DeFi to monetize genomic data in a secure, private and auditable manner.
- GALEON: Innovates the management and use of electronic health records (EHRs) in healthcare using blockchain, providing an innovative path to improve global patient care.
- DRUGS: A health and pharmaceutical Meme coin on the Big Pharma theme, aiming to disrupt the influential multinational pharmaceutical giants.
- RSC (ResearchCoin): The tokenized social network of ResearchHub, used to reward scientists for openly sharing academic content.
Conclusion: Can AI Agents and DeSci Continue to Gain Momentum in the New Year?
From the current market perspective, both DeSci and AI Agents are mainly driven by Meme coins, but their foundations differ from traditional pure entertainment-oriented Memes.
- The difference between "fundamentals" and other Memes: The AI Agent has technical support behind it, while DeSci tries to inject the speculative properties of the crypto world into scientific research. Both have more technological connotations and industrial imagination space than simply lively Memes.
- External and internal breakthroughs: DeSci needs stronger external forces (outside "big bulls" or people with scientific research backgrounds) to join in order to continue to grow; AI Agent needs internal iteration to become more "useful, interesting, and valuable" to win market acceptance.
- The DeSci field still lacks projects with a market capitalization of over $1 billion, relying on projects like BIO Protocol invested by Binance Labs; The AI Meme market cap is around $100 billion and still has significant upside. DeSci is more dependent on project development and external support, while AI Agent is more dependent on the playability and application landing of the project itself.
Compared to DeSci, AI Agent is more in line with the expected development of "blockchain + AI" technology and has stronger potential to break through; DeSci benefits from the collaboration between CZ and Vitalik, Binance Labs' investment in BIO Protocol, and projects like AmionChain led by a16z.
Although AI and DeSci are not new concepts for 2024, after a year of development, AI Agent and DeSci will still be important speculative hotspots and potential new value points in the next bull market.
About YBB
YBB is a Web3 fund dedicated to discovering potential projects that can define Web3, and committed to creating a better online home for all Internet residents. YBB was founded by a group of believers who have been actively involved in the blockchain industry since 2013, and are always happy to help early-stage projects from 0 to 1. We value innovation, self-drive and user-centric products, and are optimistic about the potential of crypto and blockchain applications.