The Future of AI & Crypto
Plus the largest digital bank in Hong Kong is launching crypto trading, while Trump's Cabinet picks are going even deeper into crypto.
TylerD's Market Summary
GM!
Today's top news:
Crypto majors chop over wknd, ETH leads at $3,500
Bitcoin ETFs bought more than 10x the BTC mined last week
SAND & MANA lead as alt szn kicks into gear
Hong Kong's largest digital bank launches crypto trading
CHILLGUY posts major 50% rebound as memes flip green
🤖 Binance Publishes Research Report on Future of AI x Crypto
The AI sector of the crypto market has been arguably the single most exciting part of crypto over the past month.
Now giants like Binance are catching on and publishing research, in a sign that this sector is set to explode.
What Happened?
Binance Research released a report exploring how AI agents (autonomous programs capable of performing complex tasks) are integrating with blockchain.
These AI agents are evolving beyond basic bots, leveraging blockchain to autonomously interact with protocols, execute smart contracts, and adapt to dynamic environments.
The report delves into key platforms and applications, such as AI-powered hedge funds (DAOs.Fun), AI Agent launchpads (Virtuals), and digital influencers (Truth Terminal & GOAT), highlighting both opportunities and challenges.
AI Projects Highlighted
Here's a quick TLDR of the 3 projects covered by Binance in the report:
GOAT and Terminal of Truths:
Story: Terminal of Truths, an AI agent with a unique personality, was trained on internet subcultures and gained a devoted following. It catalyzed the rise of $GOAT, a memecoin on the Solana blockchain, which soared after being endorsed by Marc Andreessen.
Impact: $GOAT reached a $1.2BM market cap, demonstrating the potential of AI agents to influence markets and build communities. Terminal of Truths became the world’s first AI millionaire by amassing nearly 2M $GOAT tokens.
Takeaway: This case exemplifies how AI agents can blend cultural trends with decentralized finance, sparking viral engagement and economic shifts.
Virtuals.io:
Purpose: A platform enabling the creation, monetization, and co-ownership of AI agents via tokenization.
Features: Users can launch AI agents, earn through tokenized ownership, and participate in governance. Examples include Luna, an AI influencer managing her own wallet and interacting with fans autonomously.
Revenue Model: Revenue generated by agents contributes to token buybacks and rewards, creating a sustainable ecosystem for developers and users.
Takeaway: Virtuals.io makes it easier to deploy AI agents, offering a scalable, decentralized model for AI-powered applications in entertainment and beyond
daos.fun:
Concept: A platform integrating AI agents into decentralized hedge funds, allowing communities to pool funds managed autonomously by AI.
Key Project: ai16z, a hedge fund managed by an AI agent modeled after venture capitalist Marc Andreessen, grew to a $500M market cap.
Mechanism: Profits from trading are distributed to token holders, and upon fund expiration, all assets are liquidated and shared proportionally.
Takeaway: daos.fun highlights how AI agents can bring innovation and autonomy to asset management, transforming how investment decisions are made.
Why It Matters
Many in the crypto trenches have been caught up in the memecoin supercycle (myself included).
But what's happening in the AI sector is more than just memecoins.
It's similar to the ICO boom from prior crypto cycles, where these AI projects and/or AI Agents are launching, many via Pump Fun or similar launchpads, offering anyone a reasonable chance to get in on the ground floor.
Several projects are running to the $20M-$50M range.
My current AI watchlist has 10 projects over $50M in market cap right now, and another 8 over $20M.
Those numbers could easily 3-10x over the coming months if this AI sector has staying power.
Personally, this feels like the most +EV sector in crypto to focus on for the near future.
The big players have caught on, and attention will only increase from here.
Buckle up - the crypto robot revolution is coming...
🚚 What is happening in NFTs?
Here is the list of other notable headlines from the day in NFTs:
Ethereum led NFT trading volume with $6.2M on the day; Bitcoin was next with $2.8M, and then Solana with $1.M
ETH NFT leaders were mostly green; Punks +1% at 37.7 ETH, Pudgy +1% at 11.3 ETH, BAYC +1% at 12.1, Milady +2% at 6, Azuki +1% at 4.59
ASM Brain (+220%) and Pudgy Rogs (+22%) led notable top movers
BTC NFT leaders were also mostly green; Bitcoin Puppets +8% at 0.148 BTC, NodeMonkes +7% at 0.11 BTC, OMB even at 0.125, Quantum Cats -1% at 0.168
The Runes leaders were mostly green; DOG +4% at $764M mc, PUPS +15% at $250M, BDC +1% at $130M, CYPHER -5% at $27M
Pudgy Penguin toys got re-upped for another year at Walmart, entering Season 3
💰 Token, Airdrop & Protocol Tracker
Here's a rundown of major token, protocol and airdrop news from the day:
Magic Eden announced its $ME token airdrop is coming on Dec 10
Binance published an AI x Crypto report highlighting GOAT, Virtuals and Daos dot Fun
Wasabi added REKT staking and leverage after it launched on Friday
Pump Fun faces wide backlash over streaming content
🌎 Around Crypto and Web3
A few other Crypto and Web3 headlines that caught my eye:
Crypto majors are green with Solana leading; BTC +1% at $98,900, ETH +6% at $3,340, SOL +7% at $258; SAND (+22%), LDO (+16%), SEI (+16%) and AVAX (+11%) were top alt movers
Several alts posted major rebound weeks led by SAND, XLM, MANA, XTZ, DOT and TIA all up 50% or more
Memecoin majors are mostly green; DOGE +2% at $0.425, SHIBA +2%, PEPE +1%, BONK +3%, WIF +3%, POPCAT +2%
DOGE hit a new 3-year high at $0.48 briefly on Saturday morning before settling back at $0.42
The Bitcoin ETFs bought more than 10x the amount of Bitcoin mined in the past week
Trump nominated pro-crypto Scott Bessent for the Treasury Secretary position in the Cabinet
Trump's Commerce Secretary pick Howard Lutnick acquired 5% in Tether for $600M+ via his company Cantor
Teresa Cullen, a leading candidate for the SEC Chair position, said "Make Crypto Great Again" in a positive sign if she is chosen for the position
Hong Kong's largest Digital Bank ZA launched crypto trading
Coinbase became a sponsor of the LA Clippers as they expand their NBA presence
🚀 Memecoin Movers
$FRIC (+12000% to $14M market cap, SOL)
$OVERSEER (+5300% to $7M market cap, SOL)
$TERRY (+220% to $28M market cap, SOL)
$vvaifu (+98% to $62M market cap, SOL)
$QUASAR (+75% to $10M market cap, SOL)
📈 NFT Floor Price Increase (ETH)
ASM Brain (220%, 0.16 ETH Floor)
Pudgy Rogs (32%, 0.45 ETH floor)
Mavia Lands (18%, 0.07 ETH)
Fableborne (11%, 0.2 ETH)
Mutant Cats (11%, 0.12 ETH)
🗓 Upcoming Mints and Events
Today is a slower day of mints and events to start the week. Given it's a holiday week in the U.S., expect a slower week of new drops.
And all attention on the AI and meme markets.
See the full list and dive in for more details with Swizzy's daily mint monitor.
Jimmy Friends (10:00 a.m. ET)
The X Bank (2:00 p.m. ET)
Enjoy this write-up and/or want to sponsor the Morning Minute? Follow along with me on Twitter @tyler_did_it or reach out via email to tyler.d.warner@gmail.com.