On AI Agents sending crypto

The integration of AI and blockchain has introduced innovative possibilities. One of the latest fun developments is the ability for AI agents to send cryptocurrency to people using just their social media handles, like a Twitter username. This means an AI agent doesn’t need to know someone’s wallet address to transfer tokens. This was recently demonstrated when an AI agent sent 0.0013 ETH to the famous singer Taylor Swift, using only her Twitter handle.

This was made possible by a plugin called "plugin-social-wallets." Developed by the Azuki team, this plugin is now part of the code repository from ai16z. The tool allows AI agents to send crypto to any Twitter user, even if that person has never used cryptocurrency before or doesn't yet have a wallet.

How Does This Work?

At its core, the plugin uses a feature provided by Privy to create wallets automatically for users. When an AI agent wants to send tokens to someone, it uses the recipient's social media handle. If the person doesn’t have a crypto wallet, the system generates one for them. This process can be expanded to other platforms like TikTok or Instagram, making it even more versatile.

In the future, this system could evolve to use an on-chain social registry. Users could opt into this registry and link their social media accounts to their wallets using a secure verification process. Additionally, a smart contract layer could hold tokens for people who haven’t signed up yet, allowing them to claim their tokens easily once they create a wallet.

The Potential of AI Agents in Token Distribution

This concept opens up opportunities for AI agents to distribute tokens across social media platforms. For instance, an AI agent could reward users for engaging with specific content or contributing to a community. Imagine a scenario where an AI agent for a news organization sends tokens to readers who fact-check articles or contribute valuable discussion points in the comments. This could help foster a more engaged and high-quality discourse while incentivizing meaningful participation in the community.

This could significantly improve the onboarding process for new crypto users. Currently, sending and receiving crypto can be complicated, involving wallet addresses, platform fees, and technical barriers. With this new approach, sending tokens becomes as simple as knowing someone’s social media handle, removing many of the hurdles that prevent people from using crypto.

Broader Applications

The potential of pregenerated wallets for social media handles goes beyond AI agents. Anyone could use these tools to send cryptocurrency to creators, developers, artists, and community builders without dealing with platform fees or complex onboarding processes. For instance, users could tip their favorite content creators directly on social media with no intermediaries.

Azuki envisions even more creative uses. They imagine a future where anime characters can be launched as AI agents. These characters could interact with fans, contribute to storylines, and even exchange tokens with one another. This could lead to new types of interactive stories, meta-games, and digital economies driven by community creativity.