Crypto investment in AI agent frameworks outperformed all other sub-categories in the past month. Other AI-related subsets of tokens lagged, despite the overall market recovery. AI agent frameworks are the most successful crypto narrative in the past month. The coins reflect both the Web3 technology and the ‘trenches’ of AI agent tokens. Based on Messari data, AI agents expanded by over 186.3% in the past month, shooting past utility-type projects. The AI agent platforms offer the potential for speculative trading, while pure AI, infrastructure, computation, and DeFAI tokens move up more slowly, reflecting the general altcoin recovery. Launchpad tokens are valued at $4.3B, and are still a potentially growing sector. After peaking in late 2024, the AI narrative was almost forgotten. Currently, the sector is recovering, drawing attention back to launchpads and already existing AI agents. By contrast, DeFAI tokens are only valued at $1.32B, which also includes some of the agent tokens. Older AI tokens, promising infrastructure or computation, are valued at over $39.1B, but react more slowly. Some of the categories overlap, but overall, growth is more active for the later wave of AI projects. AI agent tokens are drawing new inflows In addition to having utility, AI agent frameworks offer the potential for trading and social media attention, especially for the most successful AI agents. According to Alphanomics, existing agents are already logging more active fund inflows. Virtuals trenches are heating up 👨‍🍳 here's todays overview Top on-chain netflows (buy – sells) are: 1️⃣ $CONVO +$133K 2️⃣ $LUNA +$100K 3️⃣ $GLORIA +$55K 4️⃣ $VADER +$42K 5️⃣ $LESTER +$34K $CONVO and $GLORIA are leading fresh inflows, with $GLORIA gaining traction just 2.5 days… pic.twitter.com/vDoVxsoK7e — Alphanomics 💧 (@Alphanomics_io) May 9, 2025 Frameworks also ensure a brand and an ecosystem for inflows. One of the leading launchpads that produced top agentic tokens is Virtuals Protocol (VIRTUAL). Activity on the protocol returned to levels not seen since February, though still far from peak fee production in November and December 2024. Top agents AIXBT and AI16Z had the strongest recoveries among analysis-driven AI personalities, along with Freysa and AVA. Top AI agents are already established, with new launches on Virtuals Protocol slowing down in 2025. | Source: Dune Analytics The overall agent recovery drove VIRTUAL close to a three-month high, trading at $1.96. The token has been in accumulation for months and was closely watched for signs of a breakout. AI agent frameworks and individual tokens remain the most volatile asset type, and are also capable of quickly erasing their gains. VIRTUAL is still far from its peak above $4.60, but this time around, it trades with record volumes. Activity expanded to over $970M on centralized markets, and in the past days, VIRTUAL was among the most active tokens on DEX. The platform enjoys renewed interest, despite AI agent launches almost going to zero. For now, the established agents are inviting a new wave of investments, building up since the lows in February and March. Exposure to the AI narrative follows a recent activation of altcoins. The altcoin season index rose to 35 points, driving investors to seek new assets with the potential for breakouts. AI-themed assets are yet to revisit previous all-time highs, but have shown an ability to bounce by more than 100% from lows.