Deep dive into AI Agents: Evolution, Applications, Token Role, and Capitalization

Here is the English translation: Since the beginning of 2025, AI-related on-chain activities have surged by 86%, with daily active unique wallets (dUAW) reaching approximately 4.5 million. This has brought AI's dominance to 19%, just behind gaming's 20%. Considering its market share was only 9% at the beginning of the year, this is a significant change. This explosive growth is not just hype; it reflects a structural change in how users interact with dApps. Whether through DeFi, social agents, or autonomous game assistants, AI agents are becoming a new on-chain interaction layer. They are not replacing users but expanding them, enabling automation, optimization, and interaction on behalf of users. Data confirms this claim: AI has dominated Web3 discussions over the past month and will likely define its next developmental phase. This report explores the evolution of AI agents, their application scenarios, the role of tokens, and the scale of capital supporting this transformation. [The rest of the translation follows the same professional and accurate approach, maintaining the original structure and meaning while translating into English.]

This comparison is significant. Centralized AI investment still dominates, with billions of dollars flowing into model development, chips, and infrastructure. However, in the Web3 domain, investors are increasingly viewing AI agents as a new "primitive" that can reshape user interactions with protocols, DApp navigation, and even automate personal financial strategies.

This momentum is growing. If this trend continues, 2025 could be the year when AI agents attract more funding than any other Web3 vertical.

6. Conclusion

The rise of AI agents marks a profound transformation in how users interact with decentralized systems. From DeFi traders and social partners to native game assistants, agents are rapidly evolving from experimental bots to infrastructure.

These figures substantiate this claim. Since late 2024, over 17,000 virtual agents have gone online. Even in a sluggish market, the AI token market size has reached $5.9 billion and continues to grow. In this year alone, startups focused on agents have raised $1.39 billion. Moreover, user engagement is global, showing strong performance in Europe, Asia, and North America.

However, challenges remain. Many tokens are driven more by hype than utility. Not all agents fulfill their autonomy promises. Additionally, cross-chain infrastructure remains uneven. But as tools mature and practical use cases proliferate, the agent economy is approaching a new baseline where interaction with on-chain AI is no longer the exception, but the norm.

The competition to build smarter agents, more powerful ecosystems, and clearer standards is already underway. And it is still in its early stages.