Crypto VCs Enthusiastic About AI Agents, But Hold Off on Investment

Crypto venture capital firms are expressing enthusiasm for artificial intelligence (AI) agents, but they have yet to commit capital to the sector, according to a panel discussion at Consensus 2025. The event, held in Hong Kong, featured prominent crypto VC executives sharing their perspectives on AI agents and their potential impact on the digital asset space.

Paul Veradittakit, managing partner at Pantera Capital, Dragonfly partner "GM," Maelstrom head of investments Akshat Vaidya, and CMCC Global co-founder Martin Baumann participated in the panel. They discussed various aspects of AI agents, from their potential to enhance high-frequency trading and crypto security to becoming the dominant form of user interaction in the digital asset space.

However, the panelists noted that while AI agents present exciting possibilities, they have yet to invest in the niche. Vaidya stated that AI agents are "not investable yet," but he expressed optimism about their future potential, particularly in real-world interactions and regulatory compliance infrastructure. Baumann and GM echoed this sentiment, noting that their firms are currently focused on infrastructure and that investing in AI agents requires careful consideration of the future landscape.

Veradittakit highlighted the significant opportunities for AI agents in crypto trading, predicting that AI-powered trading could exponentially increase volumes. GM added that crypto could reinforce and improve the safety of AI agents, suggesting that AI agents could participate in hackathons with crypto as the prize to incentivize safety enhancements.

The panelists agreed that while AI agents are an exciting development, they will take time to fully realize their potential. As such, crypto VCs are currently monitoring the space but have yet to make significant investments in AI agents.