Only by understanding this AgentFi panoramic report can you grasp the Alpha of the AI-native economy.

Author: Cambrian Network

Translation: Deep Tide TechFlow

Deep Tide Overview: This is the most comprehensive quarterly industry report on the “AI Agent + Crypto Infrastructure” integration track, published by Cambrian Network. The report not only lists key projects but also analyzes the market’s evolution logic: from rule-based decision-making to LLM-driven intelligence, from user-held keys to autonomous Agents executing independently, as well as the latest developments in core infrastructure like x402 payment standards, ERC-8004 identity protocols, and more. For understanding the current landscape of AgentFi and its trajectory toward 2026, this report is essential reading.

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Since we published the previous “Agentic Finance Panorama Report” in December 2025, this market segment has experienced explosive growth. We see new projects emerging constantly, adoption rates rising, and autonomous Agents operating with crypto infrastructure. Data confirms this: x402 payments continue to accelerate, with over 15 million transactions completed in the past 30 days, and collaborations established with major companies like AWS and Stripe. ERC-8004 launched on mainnet in late January, establishing a standard aimed at building trust between Agents and markets.

Agentic Finance Panorama Report Q1 2026

This report surveys the landscape of autonomous products supporting retail participation in decentralized finance (DeFi). As before, we set strict inclusion criteria: projects must be active, publicly accessible, with real users and operational funds. Agents are categorized by product type.

Note: In this report, products previously classified as “Liquidity Provider Agents” and “Lending Agents” have been merged into a broader “Yield” category, reflecting the increasing diversification of how Agents generate returns.

What is Agentic Finance?

Agentic Finance is an emerging market niche where products use automation technology to actively manage user funds or provide financial advice. Inspired by tools like ChatGPT, Claude Code, OpenClaw, Moltbot, and other open-source Agents, some products utilize LLMs, while others rely on hard-coded rules or traditional machine learning. Regardless of underlying tech, many describe themselves as “agentic.”

Early forms of Agentic Finance were simple automated trading bots. The 2020-2021 DeFi summer brought yield farming bots and protocols like Yearn that could automatically harvest and compound yields, but logic remained deterministic: if X, then Y. By 2022-2023, automation extended across protocols and chains (bots managing collateral ratios, rebalancing LP positions, chasing yields in lending markets), but users still held keys and set each parameter.

The first real shift occurred in 2024, when LLMs entered the tech stack, enabling natural language interfaces, AI-driven analysis Agents, and conversational trading. A breakthrough came in 2025—the first closed-loop Agents acting strictly according to rules without human approval. Today, Agentic Finance is a recognized market category, and the Cambrian team is proud to have pioneered the terms “agentic finance” and “AgentFi” to describe this niche. The products covered in this report represent the next major step in AgentFi development: software capable of decision-making, capital management, and self-sustaining operation.

Autonomy and Intelligence in Agentic Finance

Agentic Finance projects span multiple use cases, but each can be visualized on a simple coordinate system. The horizontal axis measures intelligence: from rule-based systems relying on math and statistics on the left, to LLM-based systems (many now call these “AI Agents”) on the right. The vertical axis measures autonomy: from tools that provide information at the bottom, to systems requiring human intervention in the middle, to fully autonomous, policy-driven systems at the top that operate without approval.

Since the first edition of this report, the market focus has shifted upward toward higher autonomy, though the largest asset management products still lean toward rule-based decision-making. LLMs show advantages in interfaces, information retrieval, and analysis, but when it comes to fund flows, rule-based algorithmic Agents remain dominant due to reliability and auditability concerns.

2025-2026 AgentFi Market Growth

Growth Data

Since the last report, the ecosystem has continued to expand. On-chain AgentFi products see rising unique user counts. Over the past 30 days, Bankr and Giza lead in user deposits, each with over 900 deposits.

Among leading Agent projects, yield-seeking Agents and trading/portfolio optimization Agents are central discussion topics.

Institutional interest is also growing, with active investments in infrastructure needed for exponential growth of Agentic Finance. Examples include: Grayscale launching a decentralized AI fund by late 2025, Robinhood releasing the Cortex assistant for retail users, and Visa introducing a Trusted Agent Protocol based on Coinbase’s x402 payment standard for AI business scenarios.

x402 continues to expand onto new chains, now supporting BSC and Polygon beyond Base and Solana. Despite recent market slowdown, Agent payments remain strong, with total x402 transaction volume surpassing $50 million. Most of these transactions in the past 30 days were processed by Virtuals.

Emerging Trends

If you’re active on X (Twitter), you may have noticed recent timelines dominated by OpenClaw-style Agents built on the OpenClaw core framework, such as clawdbotatg. These Agents can autonomously perform payments, mint tokens, execute AI-driven crypto trades, and participate in prediction markets.

Bankr has become a widely used execution layer for these OpenClaw Agents, offering programmable wallets and automated fee redirection to cover operational costs. Not only Bankr—over 80 projects are building infrastructure on Base supporting OpenClaw-style Agentic Agents to participate in Agentic Finance.

Various new Agents are actively utilizing the recently launched ERC-8004, registering their identities as NFTs and building reputation histories to prove legitimacy. Since ERC-8004’s launch on January 29, over 24,000 Agents have registered.

All these standards (ERC-8004, x402, AP2, ACP) are stacking up, demonstrating that crypto infrastructure is becoming the most powerful underlying layer for holding, transferring, and creating monetary value via AI Agents, without gatekeepers. A recent example is Coinbase’s new Agentic Wallets.

Agentic Finance Panorama Q1 2026

Early 2026, retail users are the early adopters of Agentic Finance, while institutions are paying attention but not yet fully onboard. Below is a list of the most representative retail-facing AgentFi products.

Cambrian applies strict screening criteria for inclusion in the Agentic Finance panorama: we exclude projects still in development or internal testing, and those that only offer LLM interfaces requiring human “key” decisions. This excludes many projects.

Trading and Portfolio Optimization Agents

Trading Agents are the most immediately recognizable form of “agentic finance”—they manage user funds by rebalancing portfolios or choosing assets to buy or sell. Trading decisions require access to exchanges, tradable assets, budgets, rules, and high-quality data. The following tools support one or more of these aspects.

@askjimmy_ai: AI signal terminal with win/loss metrics supporting one-click execution

@HeyAnonai: Spot and leverage trading configured via natural language prompts

@get_truenorth: Trading features supported by advanced discovery and research engines

@AIWayfinder: Cross-chain autonomous trading via on-chain Agents

@bankrbot: All-in-one DeFi terminal supporting cross-chain swaps and automated strategies

@glider_fi: Automated, customizable portfolio management

@AgentHustleAI: DeFi personal assistant covering basic swaps to custom automation

@Velvet_Capital: DeFi app with info assistant and execution of basic operations (e.g., swaps)

@SurfAI: DeFi research and execution assistant combining deep market analysis with automation workflows

@HeyElsaAI: AI assistant for managing crypto assets, executing DeFi trades, and providing real-time cross-chain data

@elfa_ai: Analytics-driven trading assistant integrating social signals and smart wallet tracking

@ethy_agent: Autonomous trading assistant executing trades, staking, yield, and transfers directly from user smart wallets

@symphonyio: Cross-chain DeFi execution terminal with AI trading support

@Cod3xOrg: Event-driven trading engine with support for updatable algorithmic strategies

@autonolas: Desktop deployment autonomous portfolio management Agent supporting adaptive DeFi strategies

@Butler_Agent: Orchestration Agent executing trades, yield farming, and DeFi automation via Virtuals Protocol

@fere_ai: AI assistant supporting cross-chain, meme coins, prediction markets, and DeFi protocols

@modenetwork: Perpetual DEX with LLM-driven trading Agent executing strategies around the clock

@minara: AI trading assistant with perpetual contract support and customizable workflows

@MiloOnChains: Solana trading Agent supporting natural language execution and optional 24/7 auto-trading

Yield Agents

Earning yields in AgentFi takes many forms; currently, the most popular is lending (borrowers pay interest, lenders earn returns). Users can also provide liquidity in DEX pools for trading fees or deposit funds into curated Vaults across multiple venues. The following Agents help users optimize risk-adjusted returns in these strategies.

Note: In earlier versions, LP Agents and yield Agents were separate categories. Over time, more projects are integrating multiple yield strategies—lending, LP, spot trading—into unified solutions.

@afiprotocol_xyz: Non-custodial algorithmic Agent managing liquidity and derivatives strategies for yield optimization

@almanak: Multi-strategy yield optimization using AI-generated strategies

ARMA by @gizatechxyz: Stablecoin yield Agent

@ArrakisFinance: Automated market-making strategies

@getaxal: Finding optimal lending protocols, liquidity pools, and delta-neutral yield strategies

@DeFiSaver: Cross-protocol lending with auto-liquidation protection

@Infinit_Labs: DeFi abstraction layer offering one-click preset Agents and prompt-based strategies

@kamino: Solana-based automated lending protocol offering optimized yields, leverage, and modular credit markets

@uselulo: Earning yield by depositing into overcollateralized lending pools

@mamo: Financial assistant aimed at simplifying personal finance management

@pendle_fi: Autonomous yield optimization across lending protocols, Vaults, and delta-neutral strategies

@SaildotMoney: Automatic fund rotation among lending pools, Vaults, and AMMs

@superformxyz: Non-custodial digital bank aggregating cross-chain lending yields, supporting cross-chain deposits

@Surf_Liquid: On-chain DeFi Agent managing stablecoin yields with verifiable rebalancing records

@RFLnow: On Base, end-to-end management of LP yield farming, including deployment, harvesting, rebalancing, and optimization

@Zyfai_: Lending yield management

Prediction and Gaming Agents

Prediction markets allow users to trade on future event outcomes (e.g., elections, sports). These markets often require tracking news and real-time data. Prediction markets are one of the most exciting emerging categories in AgentFi. Agents can source and track real-world event info from broader data sources than humans can handle, making them ideal participants.

We expect this segment to grow through 2026. Academic research (e.g., Fed studies) shows prediction markets can provide valuable insights for decision-makers. Meanwhile, the CFTC is asserting authority to legalize prediction markets over state opposition.

@AskBillyBets: Active in crypto-based sports betting and prediction markets

@sire_agent: AI strategy-driven autonomous sports betting fund

Sentiment, Fundamentals, News, and Technical Analysis Agents

Investors often use market analysis to decide what to buy, and sentiment analysis to time their trades. LLMs have significantly changed market and sentiment analysis by expanding data sources, speeding up analysis, and forming deeper contextual understanding through linking data. Unlike the previous Agents, these do not directly act but provide informational guidance. Many such analysis Agents exist; here are some examples:

@aixbt_agent: Crypto market intelligence, narrative detection, alpha analysis, KOL tracking

@DeepFortyTwo: Alpha-seeking Agent monitoring high-signal tweets on X, scoring on-chain and off-chain info

@DefiLlama by @DefiLlama: DeFi data assistant querying TVL, yields, fees, tokens from DefiLlama database

Messari Copilot by @MessariCrypto: Driven by Messari research and real-time data, providing sourced Q&A

Next Steps for Agentic Finance in 2026

Q1 2026 has been a testing ground for crypto infrastructure under pressure. Total crypto market cap, after peaking above $4 trillion, has pulled back amid macro uncertainties. Yet, notable events include: BlackRock’s IBIT (iShares Bitcoin Trust) recording a historic $10 billion daily volume in early February; tokenized RWAs surpassing $20 billion (with tokenized treasuries alone at $8-10 billion, up from $5.5 billion in Q3 2025); stablecoin supply rising to $310 billion.

Regulatory Clarity and the Fusion of DeFi, TradFi, and AI

Regulatory landscape continues to evolve toward providing clear rules for sustained crypto growth. This is a major step forward—clarity is key for TradFi to channel more capital into crypto. For example, under Chair Paul Atkins, the SEC announced “Innovation Exemptions” and upcoming “Crypto Regulation” rules, while the CLARITY Act (clarifying CFTC/SEC jurisdiction) has a realistic chance of passing before mid-term elections in November 2026. Meanwhile, Hong Kong plans to issue its first stablecoin licenses in March 2026; the UK FCA has opened a regulatory sandbox supporting stablecoin issuers; the full CASP (Crypto Asset Service Provider) compliance deadline for MiCA is July 2026—after several EU exchanges delisted USDT last year, Circle’s EURC has become the dominant compliant euro stablecoin.

This clarity, combined with battle-tested crypto infrastructure, is laying the groundwork for institutional onboarding and scaling of Agentic Finance. In the coming months, we expect both institutional adoption and Agentic Finance to grow, likely along parallel tracks. Trustworthy performance records will need to be established for retail users before institutions allocate meaningful capital; only then will these tracks converge.

We also anticipate that new autonomous Agents (like OpenClaw) emerging to access APIs, computing power, and third-party services programmatically will drive continued growth in stablecoin usage and Agent payments. As the native settlement layer for machine-to-machine transactions, stablecoins are poised to be a key catalyst for Agentic Finance mainstream adoption.