Author: 0xJeff, AI Investor

Compiled by: Ismay, BlockBeats

Remember the L2 craze in 2022-2023?

The best strategy at the time was to hoard leading DEXs, top lending markets, Solidly forks, LST, yield optimizers, etc. Everyone was chasing token launches, participating in airdrops, or injecting TVL into L2 platforms like Blast to earn points.

It was a chaotic time, but it worked (at least for a few months).

Today, the same enthusiasm is emerging again, but this time, the rules have completely changed.

The Agent ecosystem is reshaping our perception of the market, and its structure is completely different from the past.

No VC-led

In the L2 era, token distribution always follows a fixed formula:

The team accounts for 15-30%, VC and KOL account for 10-30%, and the rest is used for incentives and rewards.

But in the Agent ecosystem, the situation is completely different. The tokens are 100% owned by the community, the team may reserve 5% for incentives, and the rest is freely circulated in the market.

what does that mean?

Everyone has an equal opportunity to participate in the purchase, and there is no need to worry about the risk of VC unlocking or insider selling. If you want exposure, you need to bear the same market risk as everyone else.

What about the OTC round of KOLs?

Some projects do offer discounted OTC trading, but generally:

  • Strictly limited in size;
  • Priority will be given to partners that are highly compatible with the ecosystem, such as DAOs or influencers who actively support the development of the ecosystem.

This is no longer a model of "VCs carrying the sedan chair and retail investors taking over", but a fairer and more streamlined system that truly puts power in the hands of the community.

There is no "copy and paste" trend

At least not like in the DeFi space, where various projects, from Uniswap to Liquity, have been forked repeatedly with little innovation.

Here, everything revolves around new innovations. Developers do not simply copy existing projects, but instead launch new agents and new application scenarios at a speed that is difficult to keep up with.

Why is this happening?

AI applications are iterating faster:

  • No need to spend months on an audit;
  • Most Agents are online in weeks, not months;
  • The whole field is full of energy, experimentation and creativity.

There’s something new to get excited about almost every week, and as AI technology continues to advance, the narrative of Web3 AI Agents continues to evolve.

A new user acquisition model

In traditional DeFi, users need to:

  • Find the project's website;
  • Take the time to understand the product;
  • Maybe interact with the product.

Agent completely subverts this approach and presents the product directly to the user.

Take @aixbt_agent as an example, it provides valuable information in real time directly on CT (Crypto Twitter). Users immediately feel the value, become interested and explore further. Eventually, they will purchase tokens to fully unlock product features.

This funnel model of "interact first, then trade" is more effective. With the popularization of on-chain transaction agents and DeFi agents, this model is expected to dominate by 2025.

A highly curated ecosystem

Instead of thousands of decentralized L2s and dApps, we will have a tightly connected ecosystem like this:

  • @virtuals_io (Base)
  • @ai16zdao（Solana）
  • @daosdotworld（Base）
  • @daosdotfun (Solana)

What's the difference?

Developers are no longer attracted by subsidies or incentives, they come naturally because there are:

  • Token economic model for fair launch;
  • a welcoming community;
  • An opportunity to experiment and innovate in an exciting field.

This is the result of a fair launch combined 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

This feels like the early days of L1 — but at a much faster pace. Looking back at 2020-2021, many L1s reached peak valuations of over $100 billion. The same potential exists here.

If you want to position yourself, you can pay attention to the following Agent-related L1:

  • $VIRTUAL
  • $AI16Z
  • $ZEREBRO
  • $GRIFFAIN
  • $BULLY
  • $ARC

But don’t just chase the hottest projects right now. Look for:

  • underappreciated opportunities outside the scope of the current narrative;
  • A team that moves fast, is good at storytelling, and can build market awareness.

If you want to learn more, you can refer to this guide:

Welcome to a new era

The Agent Ecosystem is not just a new L1, it’s a fundamentally different market structure — faster, leaner, and more community-driven than ever before.

We are entering a cycle that could reshape the way Web3 innovation works, and the journey toward $100 billion+ valuations has just begun.

Welcome to join us, friends, it will be a wonderful journey!