Investing in AI: The New Gold Rush or Just Another Fad? 🤔💸

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Ah, crypto! The wild west of finance where the only constant is change, and the only thing moving faster than the market is my anxiety. New narratives pop up like mushrooms after a rainstorm, and critics are quick to label retail investors as reckless gamblers. But let’s be real—who doesn’t love a good gamble? 🎲

Now, let’s talk about those early birds who swoop in on the hottest trends. Unlike those snooty VCs who are still waiting for their tea to steep, retail investors are the ones bringing the cash and the chaos. We need to cheer them on, not throw shade at their mindshare-led investing. After all, who doesn’t want to be part of the next big thing? 🌟

Mindshare-driven investing: The smart move? You bet! 🧠💰

In 2024, AI took center stage, dominating over 50% of investor mindshare. It’s like the prom queen of the investment world, with over 7,000 projects and a market cap that peaked at $7 billion. Talk about a glow-up! 💅

Those savvy investors who jumped on the AI bandwagon? They’re laughing all the way to the bank. But let’s not kid ourselves—this isn’t just a get-rich-quick scheme. It’s about spotting the next big disruptor and cashing in on it for the long haul. 📈

Take AI agents, for instance. They were chilling at a mere $4.8 billion in October 2024, but after the Goatseus Maximus (GOAT) token launch, they skyrocketed by 322% to $15.5 billion by December. Who knew a goat could be so profitable? 🐐💥

And let’s clear the air: AI agents aren’t just glorified bots tweeting nonsense. They’re the future of finance, capable of doing everything from trading to managing your wallet. Eliza, ai16z’s agent, is already raking in over 60% annualized returns. Talk about a smart cookie! 🍪

With over 10,000 web3 AI agents making bank in 2024, it’s clear that retail investors are the real MVPs here. They’re fueling innovation without waiting for the VCs to catch up. 🙌

Welcome to the mindshare-led retail investing era! 🎉

At a recent panel at Consensus 2025, VCs were still scratching their heads about AI agents, claiming they’re “not investable yet.” Meanwhile, retail investors are out here making moves and taking names. Who needs VCs anyway? 🙄

Retailers are the lifeblood of this market, providing the capital to kickstart operations and support innovation. It’s a beautiful symbiotic relationship, like peanut butter and jelly, but with more algorithms. 🥪

Protocols like Virtuals are empowering everyday folks to create and monetize AI agents. It’s a win-win situation, and the feedback loop is stronger than my morning coffee! ☕

By ditching the high FDV tokens pushed by VCs, retail investors are seizing the day in the AI agent market. It’s no wonder they hold the majority of AI agent tokens on Solana and Base. They’re practically the kings and queens of crypto! 👑

In this battle for mindshare, attention is the new currency. Retailers are using it to fuel the growth of sectors that will benefit them the most. It’s like being the popular kid in school, but with way more zeros in your bank account. 💵

Mindshare-driven investing is transforming passive investors into active players. Instead of waiting for VCs to tell them what to do, they’re taking control of the narrative and investing in the tech of tomorrow. 💪

Even with market corrections and economic uncertainty, trends like AI are here to stay. And if you can spot them early, you might just hit the jackpot! 🎰

Hatu Sheikh

Hatu Sheikh is the founder of Coin Terminal. He previously co-founded DAO Maker. He has been involved in web3 since 2017, having advised dozens of teams, including NEM, Injective, and MultiversX, while seed investing in over 100 projects, including Mantra, Avalanche, and Big Time Studios. In 202

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2025-03-08 16:02