Forward the Original Title: How to Position Yourself in This Agentic Cycle

Back in October, Virtuals launched the concept of AI agent tokenization. It was a bold move, but let’s be real—most people didn’t give a shit. It was too early

Now? Virtuals is delivering 50x, 100x returns on many of its agents, and suddenly everyone’s paying attention.

The thing is…. those 50x-100x plays you’re seeing now? If you want similar outsized returns, you gotta be early. You need a strong thesis and the patience to position yourself before everyone else catches on.

If you’re entering now, you’re likely looking at 5x-10x returns—still solid, but nowhere near the 50x-100x gains early adopters captured. It alwas look easy in hindsight, doesn’t it?

Jeff, does that mean it’s too late?

No, it’s not too late. But you need to be strategic. The plays that were “alpha” two months ago aren’t alpha anymore. Virtuals’ ecosystem is crowded, and the low-hanging fruit has already been picked.

What Should We Do Now?

First, don’t limit yourself to just one ecosystem. Base vs. Solana, Virtuals vs. ai16z don’t matter—both ecosystems have opportunities.

It’s not about “playing for one team” and fudding the other. Position yourself for good plays wherever they are

Look at me I’m everywhere—talking about agents on Base, Solana, and anywhere else. Sure, I’m biased toward Virtuals (I bull-post about them a lot), but I keep an open mind.

The key is to stay flexible and look for value, not tribalism

What to Look for in an Agent

At its core, the key to a successful agent is uniqueness and utility. Without utility, agent tokens behave like 95% of memecoins—a quick hype cycle followed by irrelevance.

An agent needs to have a unique product that provides tangible value. Bonus points if the team understands the attention game:

• They can craft compelling lore or stories around the agent.
• They ship features quickly and consistently.
• They actively cater to the needs and demands of their community.

When these elements align, the agent is positioned to find Product-Market Fit (PMF). Teams that continue to execute and innovate after finding PMF—like @aixbt_agent—can dominate their niche and become staples in the ecosystem.

Here are the narratives and utilities that CT values most right now:

1. Sourcing & Delivering Alpha

Agents that provide signals and insights for trading are in high demand.

Example:

• @aixbt_agent: The gold standard for alpha-focused agents.
• Other notable alpha agents:

2. InvestmentDAOs

Hedge fund-style DAOs, run by humans or AI agents, investing with their treasury.

Examples:

• @daosdotworld ecosystem on Base
• @VaderAI, @wai_combinator, @sekoia_virtuals, and @aixCB_Vc on Virtuals
• @daosdotfun ecosystem on Solana

InvestmentDAOs are powerful because they provide:

• A rubber stamp of approval for high-quality agents.
• A distribution channel for portfolio projects.
• Early and discounted OTC rounds for tokens, often resulting in outsized returns.

For a deeper dive into InvestmentDAOs:

3. On-Chain Trading

On-chain trading is a narrative that resonates deeply with the CT crowd because we love seeing the hustle of someone turning $1,000 into $1M.

It’s not just about the money; it’s about the thrill of watching someone grind and succeed.

The first iteration of trading agents will capitalize on this energy. They’ll be all about portfolio growth, showcasing their frameworks and strategies in real-time. It’s an early narrative, but it’s already taking shape with some exciting players.

Examples:

• @Gekko_Agent: A self-improving trading agent on Virtuals, leveraging @getaxal‘s infra to deliver results.
• @BigTonyXBT: Built on Cod3x, focusing on trading majors with autonomous execution.
• @ProjectPlutus_: Sporting a meme-worthy ticker, $PPCOIN, this agent combines real-time analysis with automated DCA execution.

I expect on-chain trading agents to be at the center of attention in Q1/Q2 2025.

4. Dev-Focused Utility

As the ecosystem grows, the need for developer tools becomes critical.

Examples:

• @soleng_agent: Monitors pull requests, conducts initial reviews, and acts as an AI judge for hackathons.
• @h4ck_terminal: A white-hat agent for bounties and vulnerability checks.
• @CertaiK_Agent: Specializes in security audits for agents.

More on AI Hackathons:

5. Privacy & Confidentiality (TEE)

Pioneered by @marvin_tong and @PhalaNetwork on Solana, Trusted Execution Environment (TEE) enables fully autonomous agents.

Example Use Cases / Cool Experiments:

• “Unruggable ICO” agents @aipool_tee
• @sporedotfun: TEE agents with genetic traits passed down to offspring.
• Neural network experiments like @deepwormxyz.

There’s no TEE agent on Virtuals yet, the first one will definitely skyrocket in value.

6. Out-of-Narrative Plays

Predict future narratives ahead of the crowd, and you’ll position yourself for 100x+ returns.

This strategy is how I got into Virtuals early at <$30M MC.

Emerging narratives for 2025:

• DeFi Agents
• NSFW Agents
• Robotics
• Data
• Gamification of Agents
• Swarm/Collective Intelligence
• Infrastructure

I’ve outlined projects and plays in these narratives across my articles, threads, and posts. If you’ve been paying attention, you’ve probably already seen 5x-20x returns on some of these.

If You’re New Here

If you’re just discovering AI agents or my content, take time to go through my feed. Each piece is packed with insights to help you get up to speed.

This is your opportunity to build generational wealth.

Or you can chill during the holidays and watch it fade away. Your choice.

If you’re new, do start with these articles first as they offer a comprehensive recap on the AI agent space

• AI Agents in 2024: A Recap and What’s Next (Part 2/2)
• AI Agents in 2024: A Recap and What’s Next (Part 1/2)

Disclaimer:

1. This article is reprinted from [0xJeff]. Forward the Original Title: How to Position Yourself in This Agentic Cycle. All copyrights belong to the original author [0xJeff]. If there are objections to this reprint, please contact the Gate Learn team, and they will handle it promptly.
2. Liability Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not constitute any investment advice.
3. Translations of the article into other languages are done by the Gate Learn team. Unless mentioned, copying, distributing, or plagiarizing the translated articles is prohibited.