AI Crypto Founders, Meet Your New Best Friends: VPN’s Got Your Back!

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Ah, the grand unveiling of the “Virtuals Partners Network” (VPN)—just what the AI crypto world needed, right? Virtuals Protocol has decided to bless us all with a little help for AI crypto founders. It’s almost like a lifeline thrown into the murky waters of the crypto sea, offering some funding and “guidance” for those brave enough to navigate the stormy currents of AI agent development. Sounds like the startup dream, doesn’t it?

In a daring post on X (March 20th, 2025, just in case you missed it), Virtuals Protocol (VIRTUAL, because why not add another confusing abbreviation to your life?) announced that it had launched this very prestigious VPN to help AI crypto founders not only survive but thrive. Who wouldn’t want to connect with the elite group of top investors, researchers, and “domain experts”? Sure, they make it sound like a match made in heaven, but it’s really just a networking circle where you might actually learn a thing or two. Maybe.

Introducing the Virtuals Partners Network (VPN):

Think of it as your personal guide, your sherpa, your trusted advisor—because, why wouldn’t you want someone holding your hand through the treacherous path of AI agent development? Tailored support, funding, and “strategic insights” to make sure your AI agents don’t just survive, but truly thrive at scale. And no, we’re not exaggerating… much.

— Virtuals Protocol (@virtuals_io) March 20, 2025

So here’s the thing—blockchains are swiftly transitioning from human-controlled dApps to these mysterious, autonomous AI agents (who needs humans anyway?). And guess what? These AI agent builders need some serious help. That’s where the VPN comes in, connecting builders with everything they could possibly dream of: investors, experts, and researchers who’ll “speed up” development, of course, while providing the much-needed specialized knowledge. But don’t forget the academics—bless them—they’re here to make sure these ideas align with market trends. Phew, at least someone’s doing the homework, right?

Now, don’t think that just anyone can wander into this magical network. Oh no. Investors, already onboard, include heavy hitters like Tommy Shaughnessy from Delphi Ventures, the ever-mysterious angel investor Jasmine, and Anand Iyer from Canonical. Clearly, this is not your average Saturday afternoon crypto club. Take a look below if you need proof:

But, let’s step back for a moment. The launch of VPN comes in the midst of a larger trend in the crypto world—everyone’s apparently obsessed with attracting developers for their AI agent platforms. Crypto.com threw its hat into the ring in October 2024 with a grant program to support AI agent developers. Coinbase wasn’t going to be left behind either, launching their CDP AI Builder Grants Program with a meager five $3,000 grants for projects building AI bots. Who can resist such generous offers?

And let’s face it, maybe these initiatives are the lifeline the AI agent narrative desperately needs. After all, the AI tokens have been taking a nosedive, dropping from a whopping $10 billion market cap to a mere $4.4 billion. Ouch. The question is, will these programs work, or are we all just chasing a pipe dream? According to crypto researcher Crypto Stream, for liquidity to flow back into AI coins, three things must happen: large caps need to cool off, interest in AI agents must remain steady, and there can’t be some new, flashy trend to steal the spotlight. Virtuals Protocol’s VPN is undoubtedly addressing that second factor—by creating an environment where AI agents remain relevant, for better or for worse.

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2025-03-21 12:55