EigenLayer, Cartesi core devs push mainstream adoption via AI, DeFi ‘killer apps’

Ethereum restaking protocol EigenLayer and modular blockchain protocol Cartesi have launched an initiative to build the next “killer app” and bolster mainstream cryptocurrency adoption

The two blockchain protocols are calling on their core developers to build more transformative decentralized applications (DApps) capable of driving more end-user adoption.

The core developers of the two firms will host an invite-only hackathon between Feb. 10 and Feb. 18 to ideate and investigate prototype consumer DApps with new use cases, according to an announcement shared with Cointelegraph.

Through the third edition of the Cartesi Experiment Week, the firms aim to expand the Web3 design space by “bringing real-world computation onchain,” according to Erick de Moura, founder of Cartesi.

The founder told Cointelegraph:

“With EigenLayer, Cartesi’s Linux Coprocessor unlocks groundbreaking possibilities for developers. Experiment Week offers a unique opportunity to showcase practical applications and inspire new builders and founders through this powerful collaboration.”

EigenLayer is Ethereum’s largest restaking protocol, which holds over $13.7 billion in total value locked (TVL), according to DefiLlama data.

While blockchain infrastructure has seen significant growth, end-user-facing products require simpler interfaces and more innovation to facilitate wider adoption.

Removing the most pressing friction points from the crypto onboarding process remains one of the biggest hurdles of mass crypto adoption, Chintan Turakhia, senior director of engineering at Coinbase, told Cointelegraph.

Related: Cardano’s Plomin hard fork sets stage for full decentralized governance

Verifiable AI is blockchain’s next “killer app”

Industry experts are increasingly looking at the intersection of blockchain and artificial intelligence as a source of the next significant crypto use case.

The verifiability of blockchain-based AI could introduce “blockchain’s next killer app for mass adoption,” according to Nader Dabit, director of developer advocacy at EigenLayer.

Dabit told Cointelegraph:

“AI is powerful — but verifiable AI is transformative. These are systems where the blockchain app isn’t the product; it’s the trust layer making AI reliable enough to redefine how society interacts with tech. Would you trust it with your mortgage or medical results? The trust gap is the critical barrier.”

Logging key AI decisions, such as loan approvals or medical diagnoses, on an immutable blockchain ledger can prove the authenticity of the output, which may be a “game-changer” for both industries, Dabit said. 

Related: Illinois pushes for strategic Bitcoin reserve with 5-year hodl strategy

AI-powered crypto trading to gain prominence in 2025

The field of AI and AI-powered crypto projects received significant investor attention in 2024, emerging as a key focus for venture capital firms, despite the proliferation of AI-powered scams in the crypto industry.

AI-based cryptocurrency trading may be the next significant market trend, and continued AI agent development could result in AI bots surpassing human investors, according to Jawad Ashraf, co-founder and CEO of Vanar blockchain.

“KOLs, traders, and influencers will find themselves outpaced by AI agents capable of precision, 24/7 presence and even being more engaging than their real-life counterparts,” said Ashraf. 

“AI agents will provide market insights, execute trades based on real-time data analysis, or influence market sentiment with an efficiency human counterparts can’t match.”

The symbiotic relationship of AI and blockchain is set to reshape the crypto ecosystem. Ashraf said this “evolution is going to challenge our notions of trust, control and creativity, creating a less human-centric crypto economy.”

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