2025 Crypto Investment Thesis Highlights AI Autonomy and DeFi-AI Convergence as Core Strategy

MasterQuant’s newly released 2025 Crypto Investment Thesis identifies a pivotal transformation: artificial intelligence is evolving from generative intelligence to autonomous intelligence, reshaping the logic of crypto investment. At the same time, the deep convergence of DeFi and AI is emerging as a dominant investment frontier, driving decentralized finance toward intelligent autonomy.

AI Evolution: From Generative to Autonomous

Generative AI has enabled automated production of text, images, and code, but lacked perception and decision-making. MasterQuant notes that multimodal models, reinforcement learning, and on-chain inference are enabling AI agents to achieve a “perception-reasoning-action” loop, allowing them to operate independently within Web3 ecosystems. AI is no longer just a tool—it is becoming an intelligent actor capable of asset management, strategy execution, and risk control.

DeFi + AI: Rise of the DEFAI Ecosystem

The thesis emphasizes the rise of DEFAI (Decentralized Finance + AI), characterized by:

• Intelligent asset management: AI dynamically adjusts portfolios based on on-chain data.

• Automated strategy execution: Smart contracts embedded with AI models switch strategies in real time.

• Risk prediction and control: AI models identify risks early and trigger protective mechanisms.

MasterQuant’s monitoring shows DEFAI protocol activity up 300% in the past 90 days, with TVL surpassing $5 billion.

Reshaping Investment Logic

MasterQuant’s models highlight three structural directions for future crypto investment:

1. Autonomous agent-driven infrastructure: decentralized compute and inference protocols.

2. Smart contract and strategy platforms: multi-strategy and personalized allocation hubs.

3. Vertical applications: AI-powered lending, insurance, trading, and gaming.

This shift requires investors to move from tokenomics-based evaluation to “agent ecosystem models,” focusing on AI capability, data loops, and autonomous execution.

Global and Regulatory Outlook

The thesis notes regulators in the U.S., Europe, and Asia are examining AI in finance, particularly the legal identity and compliance boundaries of autonomous agents. Future mechanisms may include “on-chain agent identity registration” to ensure traceability and auditability. MasterQuant’s policy team sees this as a foundation for institutionalizing AI-DeFi convergence.

Forward-Looking Recommendations

MasterQuant advises investors to prioritize:

• High-frequency inference and low-latency compute protocols.

• Smart contract platforms supporting multi-strategy personalization.

• Applications with real user adoption and closed data-return loops.

In summary, the 2025 Crypto Investment Thesis underscores that AI autonomy and DeFi-AI convergence will define the next era of crypto investment. MasterQuant will continue tracking these developments to provide strategic insights for investors and builders.