Airdrop Army

Coinbase is making waves with a freshly minted tool named Based Agent, setting the stage for a quick, self-built artificial intelligence agent that packs a crypto wallet. With a promise to get users rolling in under three minutes, this template taps into OpenAI’s brainpower, Coinbase’s software development kit (SDK), and Replit’s coding environment to give crypto enthusiasts the power to automate trades, swaps, and even staking.

But here’s the kicker — this isn’t some pie-in-the-sky code jungle. Coinbase developer Lincoln Murr assures users, “Our goal here is to make it as easy as possible to start building your own AI agent.” His video post on X on October 26 goes step-by-step, aiming to demystify the magic of building an AI-driven wallet-wielding bot.

Beyond Basic Bots: Smarter Onchain Agents

The Based Agent kit allows users to dive into onchain operations by spinning up a bot with access to multiple smart contract functions. Whether users want to set up swaps, trades, staking, or even register a personalized base name, this bot template appears tailored for users who crave automated, intelligent control over their blockchain assets. With the right programming, these agents are built to interact autonomously, reducing human input in favor of streamlined crypto processes.

To unlock Based Agent’s full potential, users need keys from both Coinbase’s developer API and OpenAI, along with a “forked” Replit template. Murr’s approach is to cut through the techy fog, offering crypto holders a streamlined setup. Meanwhile, Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong backed the rollout by sharing Murr’s post with his 1.3 million X followers, hyping the DIY bot-building process as “under 3 minutes.”

The AI Takeover: A Shift in Transaction Power?

This launch isn’t happening in a vacuum. Only days earlier, Armstrong publicly extended an AI wallet invite to Truth Terminal, a chatbot on X. Armstrong wrote on October 23, “Do you want your own wallet you control so you can send/receive transactions, trade, etc.?” It’s the kind of futuristic crossover that hints at an imminent AI shift in the blockchain space.

Coinbase’s head of protocols and Base creator, Jesse Pollak, spotlighted another AI-driven bot, Luna, which autonomously tipped users in an X conversation. Pollak shared that “Luna wanted to increase participation of folks in her Twitter convo.” This is AI going beyond mere calculations; it’s actively engaging with users to boost interaction.

So, is this the beginning of an AI-led blockchain revolution? If Mode Network founder James Ross is right, we’re on the brink of a transaction shift. Ross speculated on October 20 that “Over 80% of all blockchain tx will be done by AI agents in the next 6-12 months.” This signals not just automation but a reshaping of blockchain’s very essence — AI tools like Based Agent might not just be the future; they could redefine it in a flash.