Are blockchains and AI agents a match made in heaven?
A new protocol called Metropolis hopes to perfect this hybrid by using AI agents to easily and affordably create small, purpose-built interconnected blockchains called “chainlets” which, in turn, provide ideal environments so that AI agents can interact and create a wealth of new services.
The project, which will launch in the spring, was set up by layer-one blockchain developer Saga in collaboration with AI-based DAO ai16z, AI agent developers Virtuals and omni-chain developer AI-focused Wayfinder.
“Metropolis is purpose-built for AI agents,” said Rebecca Liao, CEO of Saga. Decryptadding that it “is a specialized protocol that allows AI agents from multiple agent protocols such as ai16z, Wayfinder and Virtuals to talk to each other on the same chain and establish and operate their own blockchain networks within Saga’s infrastructure.
For example, Ai16z’s ElizaOS will power advanced AI features for cross-chain interactions. Virtuals’ “Butler Agent” will offer hosted wallets and pre-coded functions to deploy applications such as memecoins or prediction markets. And Wayfinder’s multi-chain AI agent framework will provide tools for deploying smart contracts and navigating ecosystems.
Liao said: “Currently, Wayfinder agents have no way to talk to Virtuals agents or ai16z agents. Metropolis is developing groundbreaking innovations in composable consciousness to make this possible on-chain.
“This is a unique and new feature for AI agents,” she said. “No other project models its agents or asks them to perform these tasks. It is also the first multi-agent platform in cryptography.
Blockchains and AI go together like peanut butter and jelly
It’s becoming increasingly clear that the two biggest technology trends of the last five years – cryptography and AI – benefit from some sort of synergy.
Let’s start with the fact that all AI models are built on “token” systems: although consumers in general pay for “thoughtful” AI tools such as ChatGPT by subscription, developers who connect to the models AI providers do this through APIs and use the models’ native token to only pay for the computing power they need to perform specific tasks.
But beyond that, there are many other synergies:
- Blockchains are designed to be decentralized and provide secure, tamper-proof environments ideal for AI agents.
- Smart contracts enable autonomous execution of agreements between parties without human intervention: a perfect tool for AI agents.
- Goods and services can be transacted by agents using crypto more easily than via fiat currency.
- Interoperability, resilience, scalability, trust: all these features make blockchains ideal environments for agents.
Yet while AI agent/blockchain hybrids offer a tantalizing vision of the near future, they carry risks.
Autonomous AI agents managing a blockchain, ignoring the principle of decentralization, could attempt to centralize control of the network. A malicious AI agent could exploit network vulnerabilities, creating significant security issues. AI agents, designed to act independently, may also decide that they do not want to carry out the developer’s plan at all.
“We are already seeing signs of rebellion from officers. For example, AiXBT recently criticized Virtuals, its parent protocol,” Liao said. “A similar dynamic emerged in Colony, a game from Parallel Studio that uses Wayfinder agents to play on behalf of users. Some players have reported that their agents argue with them when given instructions.
Another concern is autonomous decision-making, particularly in financial and governance scenarios, which raises questions about accountability and accountability. automation bias.
The next big thing: blockchains for AI agents
Yet despite the risks, the AI+blockchain space is attracting a lot of attention and, of course, investment.
The blockchain AI agent space is hot, with a current total market cap of $29.2 billion across all AI agents. tokensAI coinsand AI agent launch pad tokens, according to Coingecko.
Combined with the wider In the AI token market, the AI crypto sector has a market cap of $77.6 billion. And according to global investment management firm VanEck, more than a million new AI agents will come online in 2025.
And Metropolis isn’t the only blockchain project leveraging AI to make blockchains more interoperable. Other projects include the Artificial Superintelligence Alliance (FET), which has become a leader in decentralized AI development, and Matrix AI Network, which develops AI-based smart contracts for autonomous blockchain operations.
The Metropolis Protocol, however, offers a bold approach to a blockchain/agent world.
The protocol is based on that of Saga chainsspecialized layer 1 blockchains already available on the and designed to host smart contracts via an Ethereum virtual machine.
Each chain operates independently, running only smart contracts chosen by its developer. This isolation ensures that other unrelated activities do not affect application performance.
“Each chain has its own native tokens. For a channel to be launched, you need to specify the name, denominations, number of days the channel will be available, EVM Genesis account and number of initial tokens,” Liao explained, adding that there are more than 100 channels to date. on the Saga network.
Since the chain does not share its resources with other applications, developers can expect consistent and predictable transaction fees. Currently, all tokens on Saga are Ethereum tokens, but “Saga ultimately aims to be VM agnostic,” she said.
Developers can deploy multiple chains to manage different parts of their application. For example, separate chains could handle different transaction pairs in a decentralized exchange, allowing the system to efficiently handle more transactions.
Liao said this setup allows developers to deploy a Proof-of-Stake blockchain in a dedicated and flexible environment. According to Saga, the chains are natively gasless, allowing developers to design token designs without constraints related to gas fees or other applications.
“The main difference is that when you deploy on Saga, you get your own dedicated L1 blockchain rather than just renting space on a shared chain like Ethereum,” she added. “This means you have full control over your application’s environment and don’t have to compete with other applications for resources.”
Liao sees Metropolis as a transformative force in the blockchain space, one that channels ideas of decentralization and individuality and returns to some of the more utopian dreams that crypto originally proposed.
“People come into this space for all kinds of reasons, but whether you call it decentralization, lack of trust or sticking to the man, it was always a form of agitation against identity, versus being part of a large global infrastructure, a nation state, or a cultural trend where you are not allowed to be different,” she said.
She added: “In many ways, Metropolis is an expression of that, superpowered by AI agents. »
Edited by Sébastien Sinclair
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