In 2025, AI agents became the newest obsession for crypto market participants. They were integrated into decentralized finance (DeFi), gaming, infrastructure, and even DAO governance, touted as the next evolution of Web3 intelligence.
With this in mind, BeInCrypto contacted OORT CEO Dr. Max Li for his perspective on whether these autonomous, machine-learning-driven software acting on behalf of users could reshape crypto. Li had some interesting insights, but warned that real-world adoption, security, and regulation are the biggest hurdles ahead.
The AI Agent Gold Rush: Disruption or Distraction?
Data from the AI Agents Directory indicates an average monthly increase of 33% in the number of AI agents.
However, despite the growing interest, Web3-based artificial intelligence solutions still account for a minimal fraction (3%) of the overall AI agent ecosystem.
According to Dr. Max Li, founder and CEO of decentralized cloud network OORT, the space is moving faster than its infrastructure can handle, pointing to models like ElizaOS (formerly ai16z).
Yet, in his opinion, the broader playing field is not ready. He says the core infrastructure, from decentralized storage to tokenized agent marketplaces, is still under construction.
The Real Bottleneck? Security, Not Speed
While scalability is often seen as crypto’s weakness, Max Li says security and compliance are bigger threats. This is especially true when tokenizing AI outputs like computing, decision-making, or real-time data.
Dr. Li added that tokenized AI raises difficult questions. Who owns the data that the agents generate? How can decentralized systems comply with global data laws like GDPR? And what happens when AI agents interact with sensitive personal or financial information on-chain?
“These may already be more significant barriers than scalability,” Dr. Li warned.
The OORT executive emphasized that without clear custodianship or compliance frameworks, the risks extend beyond crypto to regulators, investors, and end-users.
Enterprise Adoption Isn’t Coming Anytime Soon
The industry often claims AI agents will bring real-world industries on-chain. However, Dr. Li says it is still a fantasy, particularly in the public blockchain.
He explained that while enterprises like Walmart could benefit from AI for internal operations, there is little incentive to tokenize those agents. Traditional firms want efficiency and control, not decentralized tokens wrapped around their core systems.
“Most enterprises would prefer to keep that data within their own secured servers rather than exposing it on a public, decentralized network,” he said.
While private chains may offer a bridge, Max Li says the idea of tokenized agents powering real-world logistics or finance is, for now, a crypto-native dream.
A Market Fueled by Hype
AI agent tokens have exploded in 2025. Riding the momentum of both AI and crypto, they have attracted massive capital inflows. However, Dr. Li parallels the dot-com bubble, concluding that while innovation is real, the market is overheated.
Based on this, he does not believe the current rally is sustainable: “It’s fair to say there’s a bubble forming here.”
This sentiment echoes Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ), who recently warned that most AI token projects launch too early.
“Too many AI agent developers focus too much on their token and not enough on the agent’s usefulness. I recommend making a really good agent first,” wrote CZ in a post.
Zhao argued that only a tiny fraction of AI agents, say 0.05%, actually need tokens at this stage. Similarly, Hitesh Malviya, an analyst and popular figure on X, recently echoed this sentiment in a post.
“If you look outside the crypto echo chamber, you’ll find that we do have a solid ecosystem of free and better AI agents—and they don’t have tokens, nor might they ever need one. So, what we’re trading in the name of agents is nothing but memes—a value we created out of thin air, like we always do,” Hitesh observed.
Regulatory Turbulence Ahead
Perhaps the most underappreciated risk in the AI agent boom is regulation. The intersection of open AI systems, tokenized data, and borderless blockchains is a minefield for compliance.
Dr. Li warned of contradictions yet to be resolved: How can decentralized AI be transparent and private? Who is liable when agents act autonomously but cause financial losses?
“In the short term, regulatory intervention will likely create additional hurdles for innovation,” he concluded.
This is especially true where there is no global consensus. Until jurisdictions align on KYC (know-your-customer), AML (anti-money laundering) laws, and data governance, institutional adoption will remain cautious, if not frozen.
While the rise of AI agents is real, their integration into tokenized crypto ecosystems is still a high-risk, high-ambiguity frontier. Infrastructure remains fragile. Legal frameworks are missing, and real-world adoption is still speculative at best.
Dr. Max Li’s view is clear: crypto must shift its focus from hype to functionality—from token-first to agent-first design.
Only then will the next leap in AI-powered decentralization become more than just a market cycle.
Since its launch in late March, World Liberty Financial’s stablecoin USD1 has achieved an impressive market capitalization, reflecting strong investor interest. If the creators want to maximize USD1’s reach by accessing markets abroad, particularly in Europe, they must confront MiCA’s extensive compliance list.
In a BeInCrypto interview, experts from Foresight Ventures, Kaiko, and Brickken stressed the importance of stablecoin issuers having substantial European bank reserves, operational volume caps protecting the euro, and transparent USD1 information to ensure transparency and avoid conflicts of interest.
USD1’s Search for Dollar Dominance
World Liberty Financial (WLF), a decentralized finance (DeFi) project heavily associated with the Trump family, officially launched USD1 a month ago. Through this stablecoin, WLF aims to promote dollar dominance worldwide.
So far, this initiative has been working well for WLF. According to CoinGecko, USD1 has now surpassed a market capitalization of $128 million and reached a 24-hour trading volume of nearly $41.6 million. The project has already released 100% of its total supply of 127,971,165 tokens.
USD1’s market capitalization over the past 24 hours. Source: CoinGecko.
For WLF to seriously establish dollar dominance across the globe, it will have to move fast and efficiently. This urgency stems from the need to surpass its main competitors, USDT and USDC. These rivals currently hold a massive market share advantage.
Additionally, there’s a need to maintain a competitive advantage against established currencies like the euro.
USD1 needs to access foreign markets and stand out from established competitors to achieve this. Should Europe become a primary target, USD1 must prepare to tackle numerous challenges head-on.
The EU’s Stringent Compliance Demands
The European Union (EU) became the first jurisdiction in the world to establish a comprehensive regulatory framework for digital assets across its 27 member states. This regulation, known as Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA), has been in effect for nearly four months. Through this legislation, the EU has confirmed how seriously it takes compliance with a defined regulatory regime.
The regulation is detailed and clear, leaving no room for interpretation. If USD1 wants to operate in this crypto market of 31 million users, it must ensure it meets every demand.
US Senators Flag Risks of Presidential Involvement in USD1
In the letter, the group asked both agencies to clarify how they plan to uphold regulatory integrity following the issuance of USD1.
The Senators cautioned that letting a president personally benefit from a digital currency overseen by federal agencies he has sway over is a big risk to the financial system. They argued that an unprecedented situation like this one could hurt people’s trust in how regulations are made.
“The launch of a stablecoin directly tied to a sitting President who stands to benefit financially from the stablecoin’s success presents unprecedented risks to our financial system,” they argued.
The letter further detailed situations where Trump could directly or indirectly affect decisions regarding USD1.
As things stand, USD1 isn’t well-prepared to follow MiCA’s strict reporting and transparency rules.
How Do Concerns Over USD1 Impact MiCA Acquisition?
According to Ianeva-Aubert, if USD1 doesn’t clear up doubts over potential conflicts of interest, this would affect its ability to apply for an operating license in the European Union.
“MiCA requires strong governance, including independent directors and clear separation between owners and managers. Issuers must have clear rules to handle conflicts of interest. If USD1 has any conflicts, this could make it harder to comply,” she said.
Ianeva-Aubert also highlighted that WLF still hasn’t released enough public information on USD1 to assess the degree of its compliance effectively. In particular, the stablecoin issuer has not disclosed the measures it would take to safeguard against market manipulation.
As of now, USD1 would likely fail MiCA’s transparency tests. However, industry experts pointed out other parts of the framework that might be even larger obstacles for USD1 to operate across the European Union.
Impact of the EU’s Reserve Mandate on USD1
When asked about the biggest regulatory hurdles USD1 would face in securing a MiCA license, experts’ responses were unanimous. The stablecoin would need to store a large portion of its reserves in a European bank.
This mandate has proven difficult for established stablecoin issuers seeking operations across the region.
This regulation aims to ensure seamless accessibility for European crypto users and traders. For Forest Bai, Co-founder of Foresight Ventures, USD1 could capitalize on this opportunity during the early stages of its development. By doing so, it could avoid some of the obstacles its competitors had to endure.
Yet, even as USD1 scales and its demand grows, other mandatory requirements could restrict its scope of success.
MiCA’s Transaction Volume Caps to Preserve Euro Dominance
As part of the MiCA regulation, the European Union has taken specific measures to safeguard the euro’s dominance. If a digital currency not denominated in euros were to become extensively adopted for daily payments within Europe, it could present a potential risk to the European Union’s financial sovereignty and the stability of the euro.
To contain this possibility, MiCA places volume caps on transactions used as a means of exchange within the EU.
In other words, MiCA establishes predefined limits on the transactional volume of such currencies. The EU initiates regulatory measures when these limits are exceeded due to widespread payment usage.
Specifically, USD1 issuers must suspend any further digital currency issuance and provide a remediation plan to the relevant regulator, outlining steps to ensure their usage does not negatively impact the euro.
If USD1 wants to work in places where it can experience uninhibited growth, the European market might not be the best fit for this stablecoin. Other parts of MiCA also suggest this could be the case.
MiCA Limitations to Stablecoins as Investment Vehicles
EU regulators have been clear that stablecoins, or e-money tokens (EMTs), as the regulation refers to them, are payment instruments that should not be confused with investment vehicles. The MiCA framework has a few rules in place to prevent this.
Given the circumstances, experts like Bai think WLF might want to focus on countries with better market conditions for stablecoin issuers.
Should WLF Consider the EU Market for USD1 Operations?
While the European Union has an undeniable crypto market presence, other jurisdictions have an even larger footprint.
”The EU’s crypto market remains comparatively small, with just 31 million users versus Asia’s 263 million and North America’s 38 million users, according to a report from Euronews. This limited market size may not justify MiCA compliance costs for projects, like WLFI,” Bai told BeInCrypto, adding that “Projects ultimately determine their own growth strategy. Given that, currently, the EU represents a secondary market for USD1, the project’s strategic priorities may naturally shift toward regions with less stringent stablecoin regulations to drive its adoption.”
These circumstances alone may prompt USD1 to reconsider its options.
In fact, USD1 could start by gaining a competitive edge right at home.
USD1’s Political Backing at Home
With a crypto-friendly president in office –whose very crypto project officially announced the launch of USD1– the stablecoin has sufficient backing to make its mark.
Looking past the immediate future, Bai underlined that if the US doesn’t keep developing supportive crypto regulations, USD1’s growth in the country could be held back following a government shift.
Given this reality, USD1’s failure to comply with the EU’s regulations, should it ever even consider applying for a MiCA license in the first place, could have negative consequences for the project’s long-term viability.
Regardless of the markets WLF evaluates in its efforts to increase the reach of USD1, compliance with general stipulations concerning transparency, legal architecture, and real-time transaction oversight could be conducive to its eventual success.
Bitcoin whales have moved just $3.27 billion of BTC to Binance over the past 30 days. This figure marks the lowest whale inflow since November 2024, according to CryptoQuant.
Consequently, this drop signals declining sell-pressure from major holders. Fewer coins entering exchange order books often underpin stronger price support.
Bitcoin Whales Continue Holding
CryptoQuant analyst JA Maartunn explains that during March and November 2024 rallies, whale inflows surged above $6.17 billion and $8.44 billion. Those peaks coincided with sharp pullbacks, as whales locked in gains at higher prices.
Furthermore, subdued whale deposits suggest holders now prefer to retain or relocate coins off-exchange. Many may move BTC into cold storage or over-the-counter venues, reducing visible supply.
Binance Whale Flow Chart. Source: CryptoQuant
As a result, the market faces tighter liquidity. Lower sell-walls on Binance create room for price advances. Traders often view this as a bullish backdrop.
On the price front, Bitcoin recently climbed to about $104,000. That rally found support partly because large-scale sell orders failed to materialize. Last week, CryptoQuant data showed that ‘new Bitcoin whales’ hold most of the capital.
These whales bought at an average price of $91,922, so they likely aim for a much higher selling price.
However, macro factors still influence market direction. Fed policy decisions, regulatory shifts and geopolitical events can trigger sudden supply surges.
In addition, on-chain metrics show long-term holders increasing their positions. Such accumulation often precedes sustained up-moves, as coins effectively vanish from the circulating supply.
Nonetheless, subdued whale activity does not guarantee uninterrupted gains. Retail sentiment, derivatives positioning, and institutional flows can reignite volatility.
Diverging BTC inflows on Binance: Whales vs Retail
“Overall, total inflows across all investor categories remain much lower than what we’ve seen in peak market phases.” – By @Darkfost_Coc
Ultimately, the six-month low in Binance whale inflows reflects tentative confidence among large holders.
If whales maintain this restraint, Bitcoin may find firmer footing above $100,000. Yet market watchers will track any shift in whale behavior for early warning of changing sentiment.
Crypto AI agents coins are gaining fresh momentum as the sector shows signs of recovery. ARC, VIRTUAL, and TRAC are three standout tokens leading the narrative into the end of April.
ARC and VIRTUAL have posted explosive gains in the past 24 hours, while TRAC remains steady with more modest growth but strong fundamentals. With technical indicators like golden crosses appearing across all three charts, these tokens are worth watching closely in the coming days.
AI Rig Complex (ARC)
ARC has seen extreme volatility in recent months, crashing 91% between February 11 and April 11 amid a broader correction in crypto AI agent tokens.
However, the token has staged a sharp rebound, climbing nearly 66% in the past week and soaring 44.5% in just the last 24 hours.
ARC is the project behind Rig, an open-source framework designed to help developers build portable, modular, and lightweight artificial intelligence agents.
Technically, ARC is showing early signs of a potential trend reversal. A golden cross formed on its EMA lines yesterday, and another could be on the way.
If the bullish momentum continues, ARC could test the $0.071 resistance and possibly extend to $0.083. On the flip side, if the recent strength fades, support levels at $0.048 and $0.043 will be key.
A breakdown below those levels could open the door for a retest of $0.034.
At its peak, the project reached a staggering market cap of nearly $5 billion, though it has since retraced significantly to $521 million.
Despite the decline, VIRTUAL is showing signs of renewed strength, jumping 49% over the last seven days and gaining 40% in the past 24 hours alone—suggesting that interest in AI-driven crypto tokens may be making a comeback.
From a technical perspective, VIRTUAL’s EMA lines have formed consecutive golden crosses since yesterday, pointing to growing bullish momentum.
If it can break through the $0.84 resistance level, the next target would be $0.97. Should market sentiment continue to improve and hype around crypto AI agents return, a move toward $1.22 is possible—marking its first time above $1 since early March.
However, if the current uptrend falters, key support lies at $0.79. A break below this could send VIRTUAL down to $0.64, or even as low as $0.517 in a deeper pullback.
OriginTrail (TRAC)
TRAC, OriginTrail’s native token, powers a decentralized ecosystem that aims to build a trusted knowledge infrastructure for artificial intelligence.
Its goal is to enable a Verifiable Web for decentralized artificial intelligence applications. While TRAC experienced a 32% correction between March 26 and April 7, it held up better than many other crypto AI agent tokens.
In line with that resilience, TRAC is up 7.4% over the last seven days — the smallest gain among major AI tokens, yet still positive.
Technically, TRAC’s EMA lines have just formed golden crosses, hinting at the early stages of an uptrend.
If momentum continues, TRAC could test resistance at $0.448, and a breakout there could send it toward $0.492 and potentially $0.54.
On the downside, traders are keeping a close eye on the $0.377 support level. Failure to hold that zone could trigger a drop to $0.35 and, in a deeper correction, possibly down to $0.317.
