In recent months, the tokens linked to artificial intelligence (AI) agents have experienced a significant drop in value, marking a decline of 61% from the peak of 70.4 billion dollars.
This negative trend has raised a debate about the actual usefulness of these projects and the necessity of issuing their own cryptocurrencies to raise funds.
According to Changpeng Zhao (CZ), founder and former CEO of Binance, the main focus of AI agents should be on the utility of the services offered rather than on the creation of proprietary tokens.
Zhao expressed this opinion through a post on X on March 17, emphasizing that while cryptocurrencies represent an effective means of payment for AI, not all agents need their own digital currency.
Summary
The collapse of the value of artificial intelligence tokens
According to the data from CoinMarketCap, the overall value of tokens linked to AI agents has dropped by over 21% in the last month, currently recording a market capitalization of about 27 billion dollars.
This slowdown could be due to the general correction of the cryptocurrency market or a lack of focus on the intrinsic utility of AI agents.
Zhao reiterated the importance of focusing on functionality rather than the indiscriminate issuance of new tokens:
“The AI agents can charge fees in an existing cryptocurrency to offer their services. Launch a token only if you have an appropriate scale. Focus on utility, not on tokens.”
Despite the temporary drop in value, the sector of autonomous AI agents is increasingly of interest, which are software capable of performing operations on blockchain without human intervention.
These tools promise to increase online productivity, improve decision-making processes, and open new financial opportunities.
A recent example is the case of Luna, an AI agent on Virtuals Protocol, who on December 16 sought image generation services.
Another agent, STIX Protocol, responded by generating the requested images, and Luna then paid 1.77 dollars in VIRTUAL tokens. This type of interaction has drawn attention to the potential of decentralized AI.
However, the enthusiasm for these projects has partially waned: Virtuals Protocol has recorded a 97% decline in revenues, according to Cointelegraph.
Future prospects for AI cryptocurrencies
Despite the current difficulties, many industry experts see 2025 as a year of strong growth for AI-related cryptocurrencies.
Alvin Kan, chief operating officer of Bitget Wallet, believes that new platforms like ai16z and the decentralized trading protocol Hyperliquid are destined to expand.
According to him, the evolution of AI investments, decentralized agents, and tokenized assets mark an important technological transformation, albeit with a certain degree of risk.
The debate on the necessity of proprietary tokens fits into a broader context concerning the role of cryptocurrencies in the digital economy. On one hand, tokens represent a method to finance new projects.
On the other hand, when the focus is more on the currency than on the underlying technology, the speculative risk can increase.
“`htmlThe case of AI tokens highlights a common issue in the crypto sector: initial enthusiasm can inflate the value of assets, but without a concrete and lasting application, the market tends to correct these excesses.
“`IA agents continue to represent a promising sector with many possibilities for development. However, their sustainability will depend on the ability to offer concrete solutions and the adoption of stable business models.
The warning from Changpeng Zhao emphasizes the importance of focusing on utility rather than the indiscriminate issuance of new tokens.
This approach could avoid future crises of trust and consolidate the role of AI agents in digital economies, leveraging functional technologies rather than mere financial speculations.
