Crypto’s Last Stand? 😱

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Ah, crypto. Remember when we all thought it was going to, you know, matter? Turns out, it’s running low on narratives, patience, and, let’s be honest, reasons to exist. 😬 The only way out? Building stuff people actually use. And not just use because they’re hoping to get rich quick. For months, we’ve been hearing about AI agents as the saviors, but most of them? Just flashy wrappers. All sizzle, no steak. 🥩

In the midst of a good old macro meltdown, with Ethereum (ETH) and Bitcoin (BTC) doing their best impression of a dumpster fire, nobody’s exactly clamoring for yet another DEX, bridge, or wallet extension. The problem isn’t discoverability; it’s, dare I say, actual utility. We’ve created an industry that’s more like a financial arcade than a functioning economy. 🎰 Most crypto apps are user-less because they solve precisely zero real-world problems.

Volatility is the big giveaway. If crypto had any real-world use, the price would be somewhat anchored. But no, when the macro winds shift, the whole sector moves in lockstep. Because, surprise, actual usage doesn’t matter! 🤷‍♂️ That’s not a UX issue; that’s a product problem, plain and simple.

If crypto wants to survive this phase—let alone escape the echo chamber in the next cycle—we need to stop building abstractions for each other and start building real products for real people. You know, those mythical creatures who don’t live and breathe blockchain.

Why it keeps happening

Crypto has never outgrown its builder-for-builder roots. Success is measured by shipping, not retention. We reward composability over usability, launches over DAUs, TVL over usefulness. It’s like a never-ending tech demo.

That’s how we ended up with a wave of AI agents that look amazing in demos but fall apart the moment they encounter real-world usage. Built to impress, not to endure. Builders build for other builders, teams optimize for token launches, not long-term users. Roadmaps are driven by narrative timing, not customer feedback. The result? Products that make a splash on Crypto Twitter but are utterly irrelevant to everyone else. 🐦

User experience is still considered surface-level polish when it should be foundational. We talk about onboarding like it’s a marketing problem, not an architectural one. And then we scratch our heads and wonder why users churn faster than altcoins collapse. 🤦‍♀️

Not all AI agents are the answer

Take a look at what’s been happening with AI agents in crypto. We’re pretending automation means intelligence. But users don’t need agents that talk; they need agents that do. Actual work, not just clever banter.

And they need agents that can operate with intent: taking autonomous action, interacting on-chain, and accruing value, not just information. If this is going to be the narrative of the next cycle—and it might be—we need to raise the bar. What’s missing isn’t another chatbot; it’s autonomy, action, and economic alignment. The whole shebang.

The next generation of agents must be on-chain actors—agents with memory, incentives, and agency. Not just slick AI interfaces, but participants in the network itself. Actual, useful members of society. Sort of.

What a real product looks like

A real product solves a real problem—clearly, quickly, and without friction. It doesn’t need an explainer thread. It feels like magic, not a UI puzzle. In crypto, the magic moment happens when a product abstracts away the protocol, when it does something for the user without making them think about networks, wallets, or bridges. Abracadabra! ✨

Imagine an AI agent that quietly monitors your wallet, and the moment your airdrop unlocks, it claims it and sells at optimal execution—no prompts, no extra steps. At the same time, it watches gas prices and dips into stable-yield reserves you forgot you had, automatically buying the dip without you lifting a finger. When you need to bridge funds or execute a transaction, it instinctively reroutes you through the cheapest and fastest network available, all without asking which chain you’re on or forcing you to approve a dozen steps. That kind of seamless automation isn’t a feature; it’s the foundation of a real product.

These aren’t features; they’re outcomes. And they’re the foundation of actual adoption. Real, honest-to-goodness users!

And so these are the kinds of applications crypto needs to hone in on and devote resources to. Real consumer AI agents are a breakthrough here. They act on behalf of users, claiming, trading, and coordinating. They reduce surface area. They make infrastructure invisible. They don’t rely on speculative hype to attain value; they provide an actual service. Imagine that!

That’s how we get crypto out of the power user corn maze and into everyday relevance. No more getting lost in the weeds.

What needs to change (and why now)

This isn’t just about good design; it’s about product discipline. And the timing has never been better. We’re not just in a bear market; we’re in a trust correction. Retail is gone. The ETF narrative is priced in. Altcoins are bleeding out. The Fed and fiscal policy are driving every headline. The sky is falling! ⛈️

This is the best possible time to build—because no one’s watching. There’s no pressure to chase yield or force hype. There’s room to build quiet conviction around something real. So what should builders actually do?

First, they need to design for behavior, not just composability. It’s not enough that components can plug into one another—what matters is whether people actually use them. Real product design starts with the user’s motivation and workflow, not with modularity.

Second, builders should use automation and agents to reduce decision fatigue. Most crypto products overwhelm users with options. The goal should be to eliminate choices, not add more. A great product handles complexity behind the scenes so the user doesn’t have to think. Less thinking, more doing! 🧠➡️🚫

Third, it’s time to prioritize retention over liquidity mining. If your product only works because there’s a token incentive attached to it, it’s not a product—it’s a promotion. Focus on building something people come back to without needing a bribe.

Finally, usability should be treated as infrastructure, not decoration. The interface is not the cherry on top—it’s the bridge between function and experience. If it’s not intuitive, it’s broken. Simple as that.

AI agents for consumers aren’t a gimmick; they’re the best shot we have at building something people actually return to. Not because they believe in your token, but because the product does something for them. Revolutionary, I know! 🤯

Stop building for nobody

We don’t need more tokenized interfaces. We don’t need more demos that explain themselves better than they perform. And we definitely don’t need another yield mechanic disguised as a product. Enough already!

We need software that helps people get something done. That they come back to because it works, not because they’re speculating. Consumer AI agents are the clearest path to that future. Stop building apps no one uses. Start building ones that people don’t even have to think about. Now that’s progress. 🚀

Garrison Yang

Garrison Yang

Garrison Yang is the co-founder of Mirai Labs, a web3 development studio building intuitive consumer applications that make crypto usable—and useful—for everyone. With over 15 years of experience across engineering, strategy, growth, and product, Garrison blends technical depth with a marketer’s eye for impact. A former professional gamer, he brings a competitive edge and a deep understanding of user behavior to everything he builds. At Mirai, he’s focused on turning blockchain into something people actually use—without even realizing it. The sneaky genius!

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2025-04-22 13:11