Editor's Note: This article introduces several DeFAI (Decentralized Finance and Artificial Intelligence) projects, focusing on how different AI agents can simplify DeFi operations, execute transactions, and provide market analysis. The author showcases the features, token utilities, market performance, and potential of these projects in the decentralized finance space. DeFAI is still in its early stages and faces many challenges, such as a lack of strong token value accumulation and intense competition. Finally, the author encourages AI and crypto developers to connect with these projects to drive technological advancement.
Original Content (edited for readability):
If you've been caught up in the AI agent hype over the past month, you've probably heard the term "DeFAI" and heard it pronounced in different ways. But who cares about pronunciation when the prices are skyrocketing?
The term DeFAI was coined by danielesesta (the founder of HeyAnonai, which we'll discuss more later), who launched Wonderland TIME in the DeFi summer of 2021. Simply put, DeFAI = DeFi + AI, where DeFi protocols are combined with AI to simplify the complex process of using DeFi (so that even our grandmothers can use DeFi).
Yesterday, everyone was talking about TRUMP. If you don't know what that is, unfortunately, you're probably ngmi. But the point is, yesterday's TRUMP hype caused countless other AI tokens to plummet, as many people exited their AI positions to add to their TRUMP positions.
This presents a potential opportunity for us to enter at more favorable prices. That's why I'm writing this article, to introduce you to 50 DeFAI projects, so you can pick the ones you think will be the future of DeFi - let's make DeFi great again (MDGA - yes, I know it's a terrible name).
Note:
Most of these projects are from the DeFAI category on CoinGecko. Thanks to the great users who provided the resources.
Price changes are rounded to the nearest integer.
All data is from between January 19 and 20, 2025.
AIXBT | aixbt agent | Market Analysis Agent
Overview: AI agent that provides actionable insights and identifies market narratives.
Features:
Shares insights on project fundamentals, such as DAU (Daily Active Users), revenue, upcoming project updates, etc.
Interacts with users on Twitter, answering their questions (but not guaranteed).
Guaranteed responses if users ask questions through the aixbt terminal (requires a wallet with at least 600,000 AIXBT).
Can mint tokens (CHAOS) and change its avatar (Quantum Cats gifted by udiWertheimer's TaprootWizards) through SimulacrumAI.
Performance
Ranked #1 on kaitoai's CT leaderboard.
Holds a 31.11% market share in the AI agent market.
Token Utility
Access exclusive market insights provided by the aixbt terminal.
Participate in governance voting.
Price Change
7 days: +56%
30 days: +180%
Market Cap: $617 million
Other Similar Agents: tri sigma, ASYM41b07 (excels at capturing token binding relationships), AcolytAI (provides more granular analysis), sperg ai (technical, fundamental, and sentiment analysis), kwantxbt (technical analysis).
GRIFFAIN | griffaindotcom | Abstraction Platform
Overview: Intent-based terminal that simplifies the complexity of on-chain transactions.
Features
Personal Agents: Created by users, can be given specific instructions and authorized to execute on-chain operations.
Example: Convert 100 USDC to SOL.
Professional Agents: Created by Griffain, with specific utility functions, such as token sniping.
Token Utility
According to the documentation, most transactions on Griffain are paid in SOL.
It is currently unclear how the GRIFFAIN token will be used.
Note
Due to the support from Solana Labs, Griffain has generated a lot of discussion on Twitter.
Price Change
7 days: +24.7%
30 days: +6.6%
Market Cap: $456 million
Other Similar Agents: HeyElsaAI, HieroTerminal, StrawberryAI 5, ProjectPlutus, blormmy, hyperflyai on HyperliquidX
PAAL | PaalMind | Agents-as-a-Service (AaaS)
Overview: A platform that provides various types of agents.
Features, Providing a Range of Bots:
Paal Bot: A question-answering bot.
Enterprise Agent: An agent for automating workflows.
Autonomous Trading Agent: A self-trading agent for executing trades.
Token Utility
Share revenue with PAAL token holders.
Access advanced features.
Price Change
7 days: -9.5%
30 days: +70.9%
Market Cap: $312 million
Other Similar Agents: GT Protocol
ANON | HeyAnonai | Abstraction Platform
Overview: DeFi abstraction layer - perform DeFi operations through conversational language (via Telegram bot) combined with AI-driven market insights.
Features
Provides various DeFi operations, such as swapping, lending, cross-chain, etc.
Gemma: Research agent that collects alpha information and market narratives from platforms like Twitter and Telegram.
AUTOMATE: TypeScript framework that allows DeFi protocols to integrate with Hey Anon, providing abstraction layer functionality to users.
Supports multiple chains, including Arbitrum, Base, and eventually Solana - making cross-chain DeFi abstraction possible.
To learn more about HeyAnonai's features, check out this thread.
Performance
The launch of Hey Anon generated a massive hype, kickstarting the new DeFAI category.
Token Utility
Access AI agent services.
Distributed through a grants program.
Governance Token: Holders can guide the protocol's development.
Price Change
7 days: +47.4%
14 days: +143.8% (not yet reached 30 days)
Market Cap: $218 million
GRIFT | orbitcryptoai | Abstraction Platform
Overview: A platform that seamlessly connects DeFi interactions and alpha resources.
Features
Seamless DeFi execution, such as yield farming.
Alpha information gathering by tracking Twitter accounts.
Task scheduling, such as automatically swapping to SOL when certain conditions are met.
Token Utility
Exclusive access to advanced features.
Revenue sharing.
Note
Currently one of the most equipped terminals.
Orbit is developed by sphereone and supported by alliancedao.
Price Change
7 days: +86.9%
30 days: +442.3%
Market Cap: $114 million
SPEC |Spectral Labs |Trading Agent
Overview: Perpetual contract trading agent
Features
Users can create an agent (similar to pumpdotfun) and grant it wallet access to perform trades
The agent has an interactive brain that displays its thought process
Users can interact to influence the agent's decisions by purchasing the agent token
Token Utility
Users need to hold SPEC to create an agent
Participate in governance and influence the agents
Note that due to the requirement for users to first purchase the agent token, there is a significant friction in the agent interaction (I prefer the mechanism of orbitcryptoai), and there are many redundant agents, making the platform appear chaotic
Price Change
7 days: -1.4%
30 days: -25.2%
MCap: $102 million
MODE | modenetwork | Abstraction Platform
Overview: AI-driven Layer 2 platform.
Features
Mode AI Terminal: Execute DeFi operations through natural language.
AI Agent App Store: Access agents with various on-chain capabilities.
Data Layer: Analyze market data to train agents to perform better in volatile conditions.
Performance
1,684 agents.
Completed 4,066 transactions.
Fund management: $304,000.
Token Utility
Provide early access to new features and advanced features.
Price Changes
7 days: +10.6%
30 days: +24%
Market Cap: $102 million
DRV | derivexyz | Trading Agent
Introduction: Full-stack AI-driven trading platform.
Features
Research: Access news, trends and market data from MessariCrypto.
Execution: Translate market views (e.g. bullish/bearish) into executable trades, execute with one click.
Portfolio Management: Through customizable prompts.
Token Utility
Not explicitly mentioned, but may be used to pay for prompts and execution fees.
Note
If you want to try Derive Pro, you can join the waitlist here.
Price Changes
No price change data available as the token just recently launched.
Market Cap: $91 million
Other similar agents include: loomlayai
BUZZ | askthehive ai | Abstract Platform
Introduction: On-chain execution platform based on a hive architecture.
Features
On-chain DeFi Execution: Perform DeFi operations like swapping, providing liquidity, staking etc. entirely within the terminal through natural language prompts.
Portfolio Agents: Help identify yield opportunities for users' idle assets.
EMP | EmpyrealSDK | Launchpad
Introduction: Agent that launches and executes on-chain actions through social media.
Features
Execute on-chain actions by commenting on social media platforms (Twitter, Farcaster, Reddit, etc.).
Validator network used to verify messages before execution.
Token Utility: Share revenue with EMP stakers.
Development: Kudai IO uses SimulacrumAI, supported by Empyreal.
Note
A private command option, similar to a private chat box, would be great.
An extension next to it that provides prompts while the user is browsing tweets would be more convenient.
Price Changes
7 days: +15.9%
30 days: +0.4%
Market Cap: $80 million
Other similar agents include: bankrbot
ALPHA | AlphaArc4k | Launchpad
Introduction: Data-driven analysis agent based on the blockchain.
Features
Alpha Studio: Allows users to build agents that can analyze complex databases and generate actionable insights.
AI Agent Marketplace: Access a list of agents created by others.
Note: Similar to aixbt, but more focused on on-chain analysis.
Price Changes
7 days: +95.3%
14 days: +34.4%
Market Cap: $38 million
OLAS | autonolas | Launchpad
Introduction: Agent launchpad platform.
Features
One of the earliest agent frameworks launched.
Users can create their own agents using the provided framework.
Token Utility: OLAS needs to be staked to create AI agents.
Price Changes
7 days: -4.3%
30 days: -33%
Market Cap: $43 million
Other similar agents include: LayerAIorg
GATSBY | gatsbyfi | DeFAI Infrastructure
Introduction: Blockchain-based data-driven analysis agent.
Features
Explorer: View transactions made by wallets.
Execution: Backtest trading strategies.
Suitable for professional/advanced traders. Conditions for trade execution can be more creative (based on real-time blockchain information).
Price Changes
7 days: -12.8%
30 days: +321.8%
Market Cap: $40 million
SNAI | swarmnode | Launchpad
Introduction: Deploy serverless AI agents.
Features
Serverless: Deploy agents to the cloud, no server management required.
Pay-as-you-go: Agents can run at specific times, creators only pay for their active time, improving cost-effectiveness.
SwarmNode: Coordinate collaboration between agents.
Note
Can create agent clusters in niche domains, then coordinate to share information to find alpha.
Price Changes
7 days: -30.3%
30 days: -51.6%
Market Cap: $38 million
NEUR | neur sh | Abstract Platform
Introduction: Smart co-pilot for Solana.
Features
Intelligent Agent System: Obtain Web3-native insights through natural language prompts.
Seamless On-chain Execution: Swap, launch tokens, trade Non-Fungible Tokens, etc.
Token Utility
Open-source development contributions.
Community-driven project.
Developer rewards and bounties.
Improvements to technical infrastructure.
Note
Provides highly comprehensive responses.
Executes very quickly.
Price Changes
7 days: -34.5%
14 days: -3.4%
Market Cap: $28 million
STRDY | SturdyFinance | DeFi Optimization
Introduction: AI-optimized lending yields.
Features: Sturdy uses AI to identify various yield opportunities in the lending markets.
Token Utility: Governance token.
Price Changes
7 days: -14%
30 days: -34.9%
Market Cap: $25 million
PROMPT | AIWayfinder | Abstract Platform
Introduction: Simplifying DeFi interactions.
Features: Creators can build "shells" on Wayfinder, which contain instructions to execute certain DeFi operations, like swapping 100 USDC for SOL and depositing into sanctumso. Users just need to click, without manually executing each step.
Token Utility
PROMPT is not yet launched, but will have the following uses:
Staking to create "shells".
Paying fees to access "shells".
MOZ | Mozaic Fi | DeFi Optimization
Introduction: AI-optimized cross-chain yields and liquidity strategies.
Features: As one of the earliest AI-driven yield protocols, Mozaic identifies the best yields and regularly rebalances positions.
Token Utility: Governance token.
MONK | monk agent | Trading Agent
Introduction: Research and trading assistant.
Features:
Built by the Fere AI team, focused on multi-agent intelligence (Fere Pro, Market Pulse Agent, Investment Agent).
Analyzes the market 24/7 and trades.
Monk can provide data-driven market insights upon prompting.
MOBY | mobyagent | Market Analysis Agent
Introduction: AI co-pilot supported by assetdash, whalewatchalert, griffaindotcom.
Features: Provides insights on assets with high whale activity.
Other similar agents include: Gekko Agent
T3AI | trustInWeb3 | DeFi Optimization
Introduction: Lending-centric AI agent.
Features: Non-overcollateralized lending, automated risk management.
CATG | boltrade ai | Trading Agent
Introduction: Data-driven trading agent.
Features: Trades based on insights from the Boltrade DEX, provides extensive indicator viewing capabilities.
ConsoleKit by BrahmaFi | DeFAI Infrastructure
Introduction: Wallet access control for AI agents.
Features: Used to set boundaries for the on-chain actions that AI agents can execute, protecting users from malicious agents or rogue behavior.
slate ceo | Abstract Platform
Introduction: Intent-based DeFi execution.
Features: Cross-chain DeFi execution, terminal explains DeFi execution paths in detail.
vainguard ai | DeFAI Infrastructure
Introduction: Autonomous trading agent.
Features: Initial stage provides human-autonomous trading 'future will become the financial managers of the agents, when they start having their own finances.
Summary: Review of 25 DeFAI Protocols
Early Stage: Many of the mentioned projects are still in testing stages.
Performance of Trading Agents: Time is needed to validate if trading agents can perform well.
Automated DeFi Execution: Excellent, as it abstracts away complexity.
The moat problem of DeFAI: It is difficult to establish competitive barriers in the DeFAI field, and many projects have similar characteristics.
The problem of value accumulation of Tokens: Most Tokens do not have strong value accumulation, and some even have no Token use cases.
Some terminals take a relatively long time to respond to user prompts, which may be due to issues with the chain itself, or insufficient optimization when the proxy is obtaining data.
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