ai16z

Agentic artificial intelligence platform ai16z is mulling launching its own layer-1 (L1) blockchain network as part of a broader tokenomics overhaul.
The project is considering creating a platform similar to Pump.fun for launching AI agents, <a href="https://hackmd.io/5xpUGMxWRSexntAkfKPnyw" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="null">according</a> to a post on its governance forum. It is also contemplating “[p]ositioning ai16z as an L1 blockchain for AI,” the post said.
Contributors of ai16z envision the AI agent launchpad as “the primary way to implement ‘flywheel’ tokenomics that drive value to $ai16z,” the project’s native token.&nbsp;
“Suggested mechanics include taking a % of launch fees, requiring $ai16z holdings for allocation, using $ai16z for initial agent offerings, [and] pairing agent tokens with $ai16z in liquidity pools,” according to the blog post.&nbsp;
Meanwhile, the proposed L1 would be “open-source with node incentives” with the AI16Z token as the “base currency,” the post said.&nbsp;
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 Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.vaneck.com/us/en/blogs/digital-assets/matthew-sigel-vanecks-10-crypto-predictions-for-2025/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="null">VanEck</a>
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Related: <a href="https://cointelegraph.com/news/2025-ai-agent-growth-web3-execs-say" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_self">2025 will be the year of AI agents, Web3 execs say</a>
<h3 id="strong-rapid-rise-strong">Rapid rise</h3>
Since its launch in October, the AI16Z token has bootstrapped a market capitalization of nearly $1.5 billion, according to CoinGecko.&nbsp;
Ai16z describes itself as “the first investment [decentralized autonomous organization] DAO led by AI agents,” according to its website.&nbsp;
Using its flagship AI operating system, Eliza, ai16z “aims to leverage AI and collective intelligence to make investment decisions.”&nbsp;
The autonomous investment fund already manages an onchain liquidity pool, purportedly clocking annualized returns approaching 25%, according to data from Daos.fun.
The Eliza operating system powers upward of a dozen Web3 AI agents, <a href="https://elizas.world/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="null">according</a> to Elizas.world, a community-run dashboard.&nbsp;
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 <img alt="Launch, DAO, Tokens, Governance Token, Tokenomics" src="https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2024-12/0194186b-f51b-761e-b7f5-a7cd0e5c5f01" title="">
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 Eliza-powered AIs. Source: <a href="https://elizas.world/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Elizas.world</a>
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<h3 id="web3-ais">Web3 AIs</h3>
As of December, blockchain networks <a href="https://cointelegraph.com/news/2025-ai-agent-growth-web3-execs-say" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_self">host approximately 10,000 AI agents</a>, collectively earning millions of dollars each week from onchain activities, <a href="https://www.vaneck.com/us/en/blogs/digital-assets/matthew-sigel-vanecks-10-crypto-predictions-for-2025/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="null">according</a> to a report by VanEck.&nbsp;
The asset manager expects upward of 1 million AI agents to populate blockchain networks by the end of 2025.&nbsp;
In 2024, tokens tied to agentic AI collectively rose to upward of $10 billion in market capitalization, mostly in Q4, <a href="https://www.coingecko.com/en/categories/ai-agents" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="null">according</a> to CoinGecko.
In 2025, “AI agents are expected to take on a more prominent role within decentralized communities,” J.D. Seraphine, a Web3 AI developer at Raiinmaker, told Cointelegraph.
Magazine:&nbsp;<a href="https://cointelegraph.com/magazine/bitcoin-payments-undermined-centralized-stablecoins/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_self">Bitcoin payments are being undermined by centralized stablecoins</a>

ai16z mulls tokenomics shakeup, L1 launch

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