Artificial intelligence platform ai16z is contemplating launching a layer-1 (L1) blockchain network as part of a strategic overhaul of its tokenomics model.

The proposed blockchain would position its native AI16Z token as the base currency for an interconnected ecosystem centered on artificial intelligence.

The Proposal

A governance forum post shows that the AI platform is exploring the development of a project similar to Pump.fun to facilitate the launch of AI agents. Additionally, the team is considering positioning AI16Z as an L1 blockchain tailored for artificial intelligence applications.

Participants in the discussion view the proposed launchpad as a key mechanism to implement “flywheel” tokenomics to increase the value of AI16Z.

They proposed several approaches to achieve the goal, including taking a percentage of launch fees, requiring AI16Z holdings for allocation, leveraging the token for initial agent offerings, and pairing agent tokens with it in liquidity pools.

Moreover, developers and projects would receive ecosystem funds, revenue-sharing opportunities, third-party launchpad support, and AI16Z’s inherent value. Additionally, buyback and burn strategies funded by platform fees are under consideration to accrue value to the token.

To ensure quality and alignment with ecosystem goals, the team is also contemplating a community-driven “curation” process, where supporters would vet projects before launching through mechanisms such as staking and slashing.

The post emphasized that the main goal is to create an interconnected ecosystem where various products contribute to one another’s value, all intrinsically tied to the AI16Z token.

AI16Z Token’s Rapid Growth

AI16Z identifies itself as “the first investment DAO led by AI agents,” leveraging its flagship AI operating system, Eliza, to combine artificial and collective intelligence in making investment decisions.

According to CoinGecko data, the token’s market cap has surged past the $1.8 billion mark. At the time of writing, it was trading at $1.69 after earlier hitting a new all-time high (ATH) of $1.77. While about 5.7% below the ATH, its current price is still a massive 380% improvement in the past month.

Further, a report by VanEck showed the Web3 ecosystem now hosts approximately 10,000 AI agents, collectively generating millions of dollars in weekly earnings through on-chain activities. The asset manager projects that blockchain networks’ AI agent population could surpass 1 million by the end of 2025.

Additionally, recent insights from the Web3 analytics platform Dexu AI reveal that  AI-driven technologies, led by AI16Z, generated an impressive 72.2% return over the past month. Previously, the cryptocurrency was one of the poor performers among tokens launched on Binance Alpha, dropping 18.5% of its value before rediscovering its footing.

Its uptick may not come as a surprise, with Bitfinex recently hinting that such tokens could change the crypto space as more people use them to execute transactions, optimize their investment strategies, and manage their crypto wallets.