Original title: Memecoins vs. AI Agent Coins: Whats the Difference
Original author: Defi 0x Jeff, Crypto Kol
Original translation: zhouzhou, BlockBeats
Editor’s Note: This article discusses the similarities and differences between meme coins and AI proxy tokens. They both drive value with attention, but meme coins can be hyped, while AI proxy tokens require continuous updates and actual utility to stand out from the competition. This article also analyzes current investment trends and recommendations for AI proxy tokens.
The following is the original content (for easier reading and understanding, the original content has been reorganized):
I’ve seen a lot of people lately comparing AI agent tokens to meme coins, saying that they are basically the same thing.
Actually, yes and no.
Similarities
To be honest, unlike DeFi or L1 tokens, which have clear indicators such as total locked value (TVL), trading volume, number of transactions, number of wallets, etc., no one knows how to price meme coins.
The core of meme coin is:
Attention: How many people are discussing this?
Virality: How widely does a meme spread online?
Popularity: Is it trending?
Meme coins don’t need “real products”, in this space, attention + tokens = product. That’s why their value can soar to billions of dollars based on hype alone.
AI Agent Tokens are similar in this regard. What’s exciting is that:
A personalized AI agent can sing, dance, or interact in a fun way.
An AI agent that tends to be more intelligence-oriented suddenly shared an insider information that could cause a token to surge 5 times in one day.
Here again, it is attention + token = product. Like meme coins, AI proxy tokens have no clear “pricing” method, and everything depends on whether they can catch attention.
Differences
But the field of AI agents cannot rely solely on attention.
Competition in this space is already fierce, and to stand out, you have to keep iterating: launching new features, optimizing interactions, and keeping users engaged. If you cant launch something new every 2-3 days, your audience will disappear.
On crypto Twitter, attention spans are as short as a goldfish. Whether you’re building:
DeFi AI Agents,
Personality-driven agency,
Sharing intelligence agent,
Or some other completely different new concept...
You have to keep bringing in fresh content to keep it hot.
This is another attention game
In the DeFi space, you can develop quietly for 3-4 weeks and then launch a big project to make a splash.
But in the world of AI agents? You don’t have that luxury of time.
In this space, attention is the product.
If you don’t keep your audience interested every day, they’ll quickly move on to hotter, more attractive affiliates. And once momentum is lost, it’s almost impossible to regain it.
So if you’re building a unique product in the AI agent space and want to brainstorm some ways to grab attention, feel free to PM me. I’m always willing to share go-to-market (GTM) ideas.
Current investment landscape
Investing in AI agents is not as easy as it was a month ago.
At the time, a unique agency could easily reach a fully diluted valuation (FDV) of $10 to $20 million and take off on hype.
Now? New unique agencies usually fall into the $1 million to $5 million range, and even these require stiff competition to stand out.
If you are an investor, here are some tips:
Increase your positions in major AI agents that have strong communities and real utility.
Be picky about smaller agencies – invest only when you are sure they have something truly unique and can compete in this crowded market.
If you don’t have time to watch the market, you can hoard AI agent eco-coins, such as VIRTUAL, AI16Z, VVAIFU, and ZEREBRO, and wait for the profits.
What happens next
A word of caution: you need to do your own research (DYOR), think independently and form your own opinion critically before jumping into investing, because some projects may 10-20x, but some may underperform.
