Near Foundation has launched a $20 million fund to support AI-driven blockchain projects. Will this push AI agents into mainstream adoption?
Near Foundation Invests $20M in AI-Powered Blockchain Agents
The Near Foundation has announced a $20 million fund to accelerate the development of autonomous AI agents on its blockchain. This marks a major step in merging artificial intelligence (AI) and decentralized technology.
Despite the excitement, AI agent market trends remain uncertain, with some industry leaders expressing skepticism about their long-term viability.
Near’s AI Agent Fund: Key Details
The foundation recently revealed its $20M AI agent fund, following its push to expand Near Protocol’s AI ecosystem. The fund will support agent tokens that introduce new AI-driven applications, such as:
✔ AI-powered gaming
✔ Market-making AI
✔ Permissionless oracles
Near aims to make AI agents a transformative force in Web3, emphasizing tokenized AI agents, on-chain gaming, and financial AI applications.
Beyond funding, Near’s AI initiative aligns with other programs like the Horizon AI accelerator and upcoming AI hackathons. These efforts seek to attract top developers and foster AI-Web3 innovation.
However, NEAR’s price dipped 3% following the announcement, reflecting ongoing market uncertainty.
AI Agents Gain Momentum in Web3 & Beyond
AI-driven agents gained attention in Q4 2024, with CoinGecko highlighting them as a dominant trend. OKX Ventures believes AI’s role in DeFi and Web3 will expand in 2025, emphasizing the need for strong security and governance frameworks.
Even traditional finance giants are taking notice. Franklin Templeton predicts a rise in AI-driven automation, fueling investments in AI-related tokens. Similarly, Multicoin Capital foresees the rise of zero-employee companies run by AI-powered “alpha hunters.”
Beyond crypto, AI agents are reshaping the broader tech sector. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang forecasts AI agents will become a multi-trillion-dollar industry, revolutionizing automation and digital interactions. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman also believes AI will reshape the workforce in 2025, fundamentally changing how businesses operate.
Challenges in the AI Agent Market
Despite optimism, the AI agent market faces setbacks:
📉 Market Cap Decline: AI-related cryptocurrencies have dropped 15%, raising concerns about investor confidence.
📉 Slow Adoption: New AI agent projects are launching at a slower pace, reflecting uncertain demand.
📉 Industry Skepticism: A recent survey revealed that most Solana founders doubt the viability of AI agents in decentralized ecosystems.
These challenges highlight the gap between AI’s long-term vision and short-term market reality.
What’s Next for AI Agents in Blockchain?
The Near Foundation’s AI fund signals strong commitment to blockchain-AI integration. However, market conditions, adoption rates, and industry sentiment will determine whether AI agents truly revolutionize Web3.
As AI continues to evolve, investors should monitor adoption trends and technological advancements to assess the sector’s growth potential.
Key Takeaways
📌 Near Foundation launches a $20M AI fund to accelerate Web3 innovation.
📌 AI agents are gaining traction in crypto, DeFi, and traditional finance.
📌 Skepticism remains as AI agent tokens face declining market confidence.
📌 Long-term potential is strong, but short-term challenges persist.
