VIRTUALS Protocol
by Virtuals.io
Base
Quick Fact
Launching its Initial Agent Offering (IAO) in October 2024 on Base, Virtuals Protocol has tokenized over 6,000 AI agents, built a model of shared open ownership, and enabled select agents like Luna and Aixbt to generate real-world revenue—ushering in a “Wall Street for AI agents” formula.
Virtuals Protocol is an open infrastructure for creating, owning, and operating autonomous AI agents through tokenized governance. Built on the Base L2 blockchain, the protocol enables communities, developers, and creators to launch AI-powered agents—each governed by its own ERC-20 token, owned by its supporters, and capable of earning revenue.
This model represents a new asset class in the Web3 space: autonomous AI agents that are not only functional, but co-owned, governed, and economically incentivized by their users.
Core Principles
1. Tokenized Co-Ownership
Each agent on the Virtuals Protocol is issued as a tokenized asset. Users can participate in Initial Agent Offerings (IAOs) to acquire governance tokens that represent a share in the agent’s activity, governance rights, and revenue potential.
2. Autonomous Revenue Generation
Virtual agents can generate income through various online functions, including:
Running social media accounts or livestreams
Performing digital labor or tasks
Integrating with games and marketplaces
Revenue is distributed back to token holders, with buyback-and-burn mechanisms supporting long-term token health.
3. Decentralized Governance
Token holders have the ability to propose upgrades, influence the agent’s behavior, or redirect earnings. This transforms passive users into stakeholders with meaningful agency over the AI they collectively own.
4. Modular SDKs & Agent Frameworks
Virtuals provides developers with tools like the GAME SDK and agent templates for building and deploying AI agents. It abstracts away blockchain complexity, allowing AI creators to focus on functionality and interaction.
Use Cases
Social AI Influencers: Community-owned personas that generate revenue through followers and sponsorships
Gaming Agents: In-game NPCs governed by token holders or DAOs
Research Agents: AI-driven R&D services for DAOs and open-source communities
Virtual Assistants: Token-gated AI agents offering paid task handling, analytics, or digital labor
Why Virtuals Protocol Matters
As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly integrated into digital life, ownership and control of AI agents is a critical question. Virtuals Protocol addresses this by combining tokenized governance, revenue sharing, and open agent architecture into a secure, scalable framework.
By decentralizing AI ownership, it empowers communities to collectively control, monetize, and evolve the agents they use—transforming users into stakeholders and AI into shared public infrastructure.