Imagine if the next wave of crypto hype isn't about pixelated apes or digital art, but smart, autonomous AI agents that think, act, and even earn on their own. That's the provocative idea floated by EtherMage, a core contributor at Virtuals Protocol, in a recent tweet that's sparking conversations across the blockchain community.

The tweet quotes Virtuals Protocol's announcement of the "Ethereum is for AI Hackathon," a event backed by the Ethereum Foundation's Founder Success program, offering $100,000 in prizes for cutting-edge AI agent deployments. Virtuals Protocol, often dubbed the "Wall Street for AI Agents," is building a platform where these digital entities can be co-owned, traded, and coordinated via blockchain tech. Their native token, $VIRTUAL, serves as the currency powering this ecosystem.

EtherMage muses: "what if agents are the nfts this cycle like actually onboard retail normies to the trenches." For the uninitiated, "normies" are everyday folks outside the crypto bubble, and "the trenches" refer to the wild, volatile world of blockchain trading. He outlines key design principles for success: something normies can relate to, high speculative potential, and built-in virality—like bragging about your cool new agent to friends, sparking a chain reaction.

This isn't just idle speculation. NFTs exploded in popularity during the last bull run because they were fun, collectible, and had that "get rich quick" allure. AI agents could do the same but better. These aren't static images; they're dynamic programs that can transact on Ethereum, reason autonomously, and even form self-sustaining economies. Think of them as upgraded NFTs with brains—capable of operating in areas like robotics, DePIN (decentralized physical infrastructure networks), privacy tools, consumer AI, or DeFi AI (DeFAI).

The hackathon aims to accelerate this vision, covering topics from robotics to advanced research, with workshops led by Virtuals Protocol and Ethereum experts. Winners get funding, recognition, and a shot at launching on Virtuals, where agents can scale into profitable ventures.

Tying this to meme tokens, which thrive on community hype and speculation, AI agents fit perfectly. Just like meme coins such as Dogecoin or Shiba Inu captured imaginations with their fun narratives, agents could inspire a new breed of memetic assets. Imagine meme-themed AI agents—perhaps a virtual dog that trades crypto or a wise owl predicting markets—driving viral adoption and, yes, spiking Ethereum gas fees as transactions surge.

Community reactions echo this excitement. One reply suggests agents will launch on Virtuals' Genesis platform, while another envisions AI agents collecting NFTs themselves, blurring lines between creators and collectibles. Even mentions of tokens like $TOMLEE hint at the meme potential bubbling up.

If history repeats, this could onboard millions of normies, much like NFTs did in 2021. But with added utility—agents actually do things— the upside feels even bigger. As EtherMage puts it, it's "time to make gas fees spike again."

For more on the hackathon, check out Virtuals Protocol's announcement. Interested in building? Dive into their docs. And keep an eye on $VIRTUAL— it might just be the token fueling the AI agent revolution.

Stay tuned to Meme Insider for more insights on how emerging tech like AI agents intersects with meme culture in blockchain.