Exploring Crypto DeFAI: What Is an AI Token? AllinCrypto May 1, 2025
AI tokens have taken decentralized finance by storm in recent months as web3 companies and DeFi developers take advantage of AI popularity.
In crypto, AI tokens can mean a host of different things, including AI token projects, memecoins, and AI agents, which can also be utilized by institutional players.
Let’s take a look at what makes an AI token in the cryptocurrency market and what some of the best AI cryptos on the market are doing.
Crypto DeFAI: What are AI tokens?
Throughout 2024, DeFAI AI cryptocurrencies reigned on DeFi blockchain networks, with memecoins on Solana also joining in the popularity.
Largely influenced by the performance of Nvidia in the traditional markets, AI cryptocurrency tokens boomed, with web3 leaders Bittensor, Near Protocol, FET, and ElizaOS at the top.
On Solana, AI agent memecoins were gained in popularity, with ElizaOS surviving the trend and going on to become a strong AI crypto project based on the creation of autonomous AI agents for social media.
Near Protocol has positioned itself as an AI network thanks to specialized developments in artificial intelligence dedicated to autonomous agents, AI creation, and AI integrations to enhance network capabilities.
FET, also known as the Artificial Superintelligence Alliance (ASI), is a combination of multiple cryptocurrency projects, including Fetch.ai, SingularityNET, and Ocean Protocol.
ASI is working on a decentralized superintelligence alongside an AI marketplace, tools, and decentralized applications, such as their recent ASI-1 Mini, a Web3-native application adopted for agnatic workflows.
Bittensor, on the other hand, hosts competitive AI developments on its decentralized network, powered by the TAO cryptocurrency, which is used to reward developers and held by project users.
Examples of AI tokens in crypto
When asking what an AI crypto token is, it’s important to remember the various types of AI tokens that currently exist in the crypto market.
There are serious AI projects led by public-facing teams such as Near Protocol, Bittensor, and ElizaOS, and then there are AI agent tokens, created using tools such as ElizaOS or Virtuals, with anonymous developers.
Agents like AIXBT have gained a following on crypto Twitter/X due to their market updates and regular posts. Before rebranding to ElizaOS, ai16z, named after the Andersson Horrowitz investment firm, was an AI agent token, memecoin, and DAO (decentralized autonomous organization).
Since rebranding, the token has become a more public-facing, developer-friendly open-source project with thousands of contributors and collaborations with Hedera Hashgraph on AI agent developments.
What are the top AI tokens?
Over time, AI tokens could evolve into a popular investment category alongside institutional tokens such as XRP and HBAR, and DeFi-oriented tokens like SUI or Aptos.
AI tokens occupy a realm in the cryptocurrency market that some investors have yet to explore due to how young these tokens are.
Most forward-facing AI tokens like ai16z, AIXBT, and Bittensor’s TAO were only “discovered” by the crypto market in 2024. Near Protocol has only in recent months begun overhauling its artificial intelligence integrations.
It could take a few more years for DeFAI tokens to take a real foothold in the crypto market and attract large attention from investors and institutions who may be looking for decentralized alternatives to OpenAI and Nvidia.
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