Experts in the field anticipate that AI agents will have a significant positive impact on blockchain ecosystems and the cryptocurrency industry. In addition to identifying and reducing risks, these self-governing systems can enhance trading and investing techniques.
BeInCrypto talked with Ilan Rakhmanov, the founder of ChainGPT, about the sectors of the economy that AI agents will have the biggest impact on and the issues that must be resolved for these cutting-edge technologies to be used safely.
The Market for AI Agents is Growing
An important turning point in the development of blockchain technology and the cryptocurrency industry is represented by AI agents. These self-governing systems decide for themselves and carry out tasks on their own.
They can improve financial mechanisms’ intelligence, flexibility, and equity. AI agents, as opposed to AI bots, are task-adaptive and autonomously manage multi-step processes.
We think that the first AI agents may “join the workforce” around 2025 and significantly alter business output. In a blog post earlier this month, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman stated, “We still think that iteratively giving people great tools produces great, widely distributed outcomes.”
Franklin Templeton, an asset manager, also emphasized the benefits of AI agents in a recent paper.
In the future, we can see Al agents playing a crucial role in a variety of platforms and sectors and revolutionizing social media content creation. These agents might introduce their music, movies, businesses, goods, and more, adding substantial economic value to their ecosystems, just like today’s human influencers do, the report stated.
According to CoinGecko, AI agents took off as a market category shortly after Truth Terminal’s GOAT token launched on Solana last October. Currently, AI agent tokens have a market cap of more than $12 billion.
This is remarkable growth because the majority of this market segment didn’t exist a year ago.
At the moment, CoinMarketCap lists more than 150 cryptocurrency tokens utilized by AI agents. This figure illustrates the growth of AI agent-related initiatives and their potential for the industry’s future.
Other noteworthy instances are Zerebro, Virtuals Protocol, aiXBT, and ai16z. Innovation in the industry is also being fueled by AI platforms like ChainGPT, Dall-E, and Midjourney.
It is reasonable to assume that, as adoption picks up speed, AI agents will continue to influence changes in the dynamics of AI and crypto-related businesses.
Modifications to the Way Crypto Markets Operate
AI agents in cryptocurrency trading might be a distinguishing trend in 2025, whereas last year these autonomous systems were mostly utilized for content production and social media interaction to garner attention.
AI agents have a higher level of technology than AI trading bots, although they have some of the same features.
For example, the intrinsic autonomy of crypto AI agents is one of its distinguishing features. They can function autonomously because of this trait. Without continual human interaction, AI bots can continuously monitor market circumstances and take action depending on pre-established parameters.
Crypto AI agents are distinct from conventional trading bots due to their degree of autonomy. As a result, they can serve as independent helpers for trading strategy execution and bitcoin portfolio management.
“Trading bots driven by AI are transforming the way cryptocurrency markets operate. They provide data-driven, quick, and accurate decision-making. Rakhmanov told BeInCrypto, “They can execute trades, manage portfolios, and analyze market trends far more efficiently than humans while also helping to reduce emotional decision-making.”
Their capacity to constantly improve their prediction models by learning from past market data is a crucial characteristic that sets these instruments apart.
Automated trading systems may now function constantly because of machine learning capabilities, which help them spot and seize trading opportunities that human traders would not notice right away because of time and attention span constraints.
Additionally, AI agents’ capabilities extend to other parts of the Bitcoin ecosystem, such as DeFi protocols.
Simplifying DeFi Protocols
AI agents’ ability to carry out tasks at rapid speeds makes them a critical tool in the decentralized finance (DeFi) sector.
“AI has become a household name, and its impact is now reaching the world of decentralized finance (DeFi). By automating and optimizing processes, AI is making DeFi smarter and more efficient,” said Rakhmanov.
Crypto AI agents operate based on a three-step process: data collection, data analysis, and automated execution. In the first step, the AI agent collects substantial data from various sources, including market trends, blockchain transactions, and DeFi statistics.
This data is then analyzed using advanced machine learning algorithms and predictive analytics techniques to identify patterns and determine the optimal course of action.
Finally, based on this analysis, the AI agent autonomously executes the determined actions, such as placing trades, moving funds between wallets, or triggering the execution of smart contracts.
“AI can improve risk assessment in lending protocols by evaluating borrowers more accurately, leading to better decision-making. It can also make liquidity pools work smarter by predicting user behavior and market trends, reducing waste and inefficiencies. Additionally, AI can enable smart contracts to adapt to real-world changes automatically, without needing human input,” Rakhmanov added.
By doing so, these AI agents greatly facilitate DeFi interaction.
“These innovations are making DeFi systems not only more effective but also more accessible and user-friendly, paving the way for broader adoption by people from all walks of life.”
Beyond their appeal to institutional investors or professional traders, AI agents can be leveraged to attract a wider audience to Web3 technologies in general.
AI Agents Increase Accessibility for Users
Autonomous agents could make the industry more accessible by fundamentally breaking down complex mechanisms and automatically executing them.
“AI Agents can simplify interactions by providing real-time insights, educational tools, and personalized guidance tailored to each user’s needs. For instance, AI-powered assistants could explain complex DeFi protocols in plain language or recommend optimal investment strategies,” Rakhmanov told BeInCrypto.
“By prioritizing user-centric design and leveraging AI, the cryptocurrency ecosystem can attract a broader audience and lower barriers to entry,” he added.
AI agents can also make the onboarding process easy for new users. If they were to spread globally, such systems could incentivize widespread adoption, according to Rakhmanov.
“The convergence of AI and blockchain could democratize access to financial systems, empower individuals with tailored tools, and enhance financial inclusion globally. Economically, AI-driven automation could reduce inefficiencies, lower transaction costs, and unlock new markets. Socially, decentralized AI systems like Decentralized Artificial Superintelligence (DASI) could promote fairness and reduce bias in financial decision-making.”
Leveraging Security and Scalability
AI agents have a completely different and more nuanced use case in terms of blockchain security. They can enhance the security and scalability of the entire blockchain network, safeguarding both experienced and inexperienced users from associated risks.
The security framework ensures the agent operates safely, protecting user data, private keys, and executed transactions.
Crypto AI agents incorporate thorough security measures, including encryption and multi-layer authentication, to ensure the security and privacy of user data.
“On the security front, they can detect and mitigate threats in real-time by analyzing patterns and identifying anomalies, reducing vulnerabilities to hacks and fraud,” Rakhmanov explained.
A blockchain integration layer connects the agent to blockchain networks, enabling it to interact with smart contracts, wallets, and DApps. It bridges the agent and the blockchain, ensuring the agent can operate across multiple ecosystems.
The blockchain integration layer enables the agent to function seamlessly across multiple blockchains. This layer acts as a bridge connecting the agent to these networks and facilitating interoperability.
“For scalability, AI Agents can optimize resource allocation, improve consensus mechanisms, and streamline data validation processes,” he added.
However, there are also associated security risks that come with AI agent integration. Given their autonomous nature, crypto AI agents are susceptible to cyberattacks.
Potential vulnerabilities include smart contract exploits, private key compromises, and the possibility of market manipulation.
Therefore, a strong security framework is essential.
Blockchain network congestion, characterized by delays and increased transaction fees, can hinder the performance of crypto AI agents. This issue is common on blockchains like Ethereum during periods of high activity.
Integrating crypto AI agents across different blockchains can also be challenging. This is due to each network’s varying protocols and decentralized infrastructures.
Other Associated Challenges With AI Agents
The benefits and potential of AI agents are evident. Yet, the technology is in its early stages, and there are more limitations to consider.
While the autonomous capabilities of AI agents offer significant advantages in terms of efficiency and responsiveness, they also raise important questions regarding accountability and risk management.
“These advancements also pose risks, including job displacement and ethical concerns around data privacy,” Rakhmanov told BeInCrypto.