How is DeFAI doing now after all the hype?

A report released by CoinMarketCap at the beginning of this year caused heated discussions in the industry. The report proposed the concept of "Agentic Web", a decentralized network dominated by AI agents. Projects such as ai16z and Virtuals frequently appeared on hot searches. At the same time, a new term quickly entered the public eye: DeFAI, which stands for Decentralized Finance + Artificial Intelligence.

In short, DeFAI is an innovative attempt to integrate AI technology into the DeFi ecosystem. It automates complex financial operations such as transaction execution, risk management, and yield optimization through intelligent agents (AI Agents), which not only improves efficiency but also lowers the threshold for ordinary users to enter DeFi. As the hot discussion on the X platform said, "DeFi is the past, AI is the present, and DeFAI is the future", this trend is fermenting rapidly.

The DeFAI craze is not groundless. From the end of 2024 to the beginning of 2025, multiple projects were released intensively, demonstrating the diverse possibilities of combining AI with DeFi. In order to better understand this emerging sector, we will review the latest progress of several representative DeFAI projects in this article. Although the market is weak, they are still building and see how they can drive the industry forward through technological innovation.

1. The Hive

Project Introduction:

The Hive is a decentralized platform based on the Solana blockchain that simplifies and improves DeFi operations by coordinating an interoperable AI agent network. It provides users with token analysis, liquidity management, staking, and trading tools, all driven by AI to provide real-time insights and automation. The project prioritizes user-friendly design, combines social media data (e.g. X posts) with on-chain analysis, and continuously optimizes its technical infrastructure for scalability.

Latest Developments:

• Token Analysis Agent Upgrade: In January this year, The Hive launched an upgraded version of the token analysis agent, focusing on optimizing token liquidity pool (LP) management, including adding chart tools for visualizing token data, updating the token data user interface (UI), enhancing the search API, etc.

• Community-inspired UI/UX improvements: In mid-January, updates to automatic USD conversion, interactive transfer tools, and collapsible sidebars improved usability.

• Comprehensive platform enhancements: In February, a wide range of updates were launched covering multiple aspects of The Hive ecosystem, including token dashboard integration, liquidity and trading agents, staking pool UX, query and input improvements, API limit increases, and more.

Future Expectations:

Although currently focused on Solana, as DeFi's demand for cross-chain interoperability increases, The Hive may explore cross-chain integration to further expand its market coverage. In addition, The Hive may further develop its AI agents so that they are not limited to current functions. Considering its "modular network" positioning, The Hive may launch more customized agents in the future to meet the needs of different users.

2. Griffain

Project Introduction:

Griffain is an AI-driven platform based on Solana, which provides users with transaction automation, liquid pledge and data analysis services through autonomous agents. It has created a modular AI agent ecosystem, the core of which is to use the advantages of AI and Solana to help users manage Crypto assets more intelligently and efficiently.

Latest Developments:

• Agent DeepSeek: At the end of January, Griffain launched “Agent DeepSeek” in the “Agent Engine” suite, which is in line with Griffain’s broader AI-driven strategy to expand its agent products from trading to data-driven insights.

• Agent Sniper Release and Upgrade: In mid-to-late February, Griffain launched "Agent Sniper", a tool designed for trading new tokens on Pump.fun (a popular token issuance platform on Solana). The tool's automation and precision features cater to traders who want to catch the early token boom.

• Griffain Virtual Validator Cooperates with Marinade Finance: In early March, Griffain launched a "virtual validator" for staking Solana (SOL), powered by Marinade Finance, the leading liquid staking protocol on Solana. "Virtual" means that this is a staking service that is abstracted and managed by the Griffain platform. Users do not need to interact directly with Solana's native validators, but complete operations through Griffain's interface. The integration with Marinade Finance means that users can obtain liquid staking tokens (such as mSOL) that can be used in DeFi while earning staking rewards.

Future expectations:

"Virtual validators" may be the starting point for Griffain to enter the broader DeFi field. In the future, it may be deeply integrated with more Solana protocols (such as Jupiter and Raydium) to provide one-stop DeFi solutions, such as automated strategies that combine staking and trading. By increasing API capacity (such as optimization of Agent Engine) and potential developer programs, Griffain may attract more developers to build third-party applications based on its platform in the future.

3. Cod3x

Latest Developments:

• Working with Hyperlane Team: On February 18, $TONY was launched on Solana in collaboration with the Hyperlane team. With the same market cap as tokens on other chains, $TONY saw $5 million in trading volume in the first five minutes due to Solana’s volatility.

• Cod3x Create V0.5: Cod3x Create V0.5 was released on February 21. This update uses a new backend architecture, silent interface, scheduling and plugin system to lay the foundation for creating dynamic AI agents that can respond to trends and market conditions in real time.

• Join the activity plan: Cod3x has officially joined the Cookie3 Growth Partner Program and will participate in the Cookie DAO's multi-airdrop Farming program. Cod3x's trading agents have access to richer data resources. They can use the multi-dimensional data such as market attention and sentiment indicators provided on the CookieDAO platform to conduct in-depth market trend analysis, and accurately execute trading strategies based on this, so as to seize the initiative in a complex and changing market environment.

Fourth, Hey Anon

Latest Developments:

• Hey Anon Build 0.3: On March 1, HeyAnon Build 0.3 was launched on Solana. Users can create a Solana wallet or connect an existing wallet in the HeyAnon application and perform swaps on the Solana network directly in the application.

• Public Beta v0.1: Announced on February 1, Public Beta v0.1 simplifies DeFi operations by performing swaps, cross-chain asset bridging, and managing DeFi strategies. Users only need to issue commands and specify the protocol to use, and the platform will handle the rest. The platform is currently accessible through heyanon.ai, and this is an early version, and will be frequently updated to add features and protocol support.

• Bubblemaps Integration: On March 1, Hey Anon now integrates blockchain data visualization platform Bubblemaps, bringing token distribution, holder analysis, and decentralization metrics directly into Hey Anon.

5. Orbit

Project Introduction:

Orbit is an AI-driven DeFi assistant platform that aims to simplify users' operations on the blockchain through automated tools and smart contract management. The platform's functions cover cross-chain guessing and asset bridging, pledge and yield strategy optimization, lending protocol access, and comprehensive portfolio management tools. Orbit currently supports more than 100 blockchains and more than 200 DeFi protocols, providing seamless asset management and transaction processes, lowering the threshold for use and improving user experience.

Latest Developments:

• On-chain Automation Function: Last July, Orbit launched the on-chain automation function, allowing users to set conditions and automatically execute transactions. This further optimizes the user's trading experience and enhances Orbit's ability in data-driven decision-making.

• Function expansion and integration: On February 11, Orbit integrated the liquidity protocol KyberSwap to bring users a fast and efficient Swap experience. In May last year, Orbit integrated with the well-known trading tool DEX Screener, whose AI agent can detect emerging tokens, allocate funds and optimize investment portfolios in real time, providing users with smarter investment tools. In addition, the platform has also integrated the market sentiment data of the X platform to provide users with real-time market trends and insights.

• ORBIT V2.0: The biggest expectation at present is the upcoming ORBIT V2.0, but the specific launch time has not yet been disclosed. Orbit V2.0 will adopt a hybrid interface, where users can continue to perform operations on the chain, while adopting a new paradigm of building things on the chain using AI agents. Users can use agent buttons to start multi-agent workflows to achieve more complex goals. In addition, Orbit V2.0 uses a combination of AI agent wallets and delegated actions to provide more autonomy for agents who need to execute transactions.

Future expectations:

Compared with other solutions, Orbit is characterized by its powerful integration capabilities. Orbit emphasizes cross-chain functions and has currently integrated more than 117 chains and 200 protocols, achieving seamless docking with multiple blockchains. In the future, Orbit will continue to expand the range of public chains it supports. In addition, the release of Orbit V2.0 is also highly anticipated, which will support users to build complex on-chain applications and further improve the efficiency and user experience of the platform.

Six, Neur

Project Introduction:

Neur is an AI assistant designed specifically for the Solana ecosystem and an open source, full-stack application. It allows users to easily use natural language to interact with DeFi protocols, NFTs, and other Solana services through an AI-powered conversational interface. Neur uses advanced AI models such as Claude 3.5-Sonnet and GPT-4 to provide a variety of functions such as smart wallets, NFT management, and market trend tracking.

Latest Developments:

• Early Access Program (EAP): On January 1, Neur reported that its first week of user growth on Solana reached 5,587 non-paying users and 389 EAP users. The EAP fee is 1SOL, and these users will receive lifetime access after the official launch.

• Integrated Privy Wallet: On January 22, Neur announced the activation of the Privy embedded wallet, allowing users to send assets from the embedded wallet with just a few clicks, improving the user asset interaction experience.

• Neur v0.3.4 is online: On February 14, Neur was updated to version v0.3.4, adding new features such as prompt management, enhanced user interface, integrated Cookie.fun, and fixed some data bugs.

Future Expectations:

Neur is currently in the early testing stage, and the current focus is on developing core infrastructure and proxy functions, and continuously optimizing platform functions. Neur's roadmap shows that its goal is to build scalable infrastructure and AI-driven Crypto management automation, including the development of more user-friendly login pages, chat interfaces, and streaming tool components for real-time blockchain interactions.

In addition, Neur's next phase of plans includes building open source tools for on-chain event parsing, aiming to attract more contributors, especially developers interested in building and integrating. By supporting the parsing of transaction data from various protocols, Neur provides a foundation for creating automation tools. In the future, Neur's goal is not only to create a useful tool, but also to build a collaborative ecosystem where developers can jointly build, share and enhance on-chain automation.

Summary

The six DeFAI projects focused on in this article, from cross-chain intelligent management, automated strategies to natural language interaction, all demonstrate the disruptive potential of the "AI+DeFi" integration. These projects are using the most innovative AI technology to transform complex on-chain operations into financial tools that are "available to everyone."

We can see from these cutting-edge projects that the current DeFAI ecosystem may undergo several key transitions. First, from automation to autonomy: existing AI agents rely more on preset rules, and the next generation of models may combine reinforcement learning to achieve strategy evolution, such as the "adaptive liquidity management" proposed by The Hive; Second, from a single chain to a full-chain AI Agent network: in the future, perhaps a scenario will be realized where AI agents can freely roam multiple chains. At that time, users do not need to care about the underlying protocol, and AI will automatically choose the optimal execution; Third, from tools to infrastructure: just as Neur open-sources on-chain parsing tools and hopes to build a collaborative ecosystem, AI projects are shifting from closed services to ecological bases to attract more developers to participate in ecological construction.

DeFAI is changing DeFi by making it smarter, simpler and more accessible. Although the overall DeFAI project is currently in a market trough, as AI-driven DApps continue to expand their application scenarios, DeFi's intelligent upgrade is expected to usher in a huge change this summer.