AI Agents, DeepSeek Shock, and Agentic Payments: Scott Shi Outlines 2025 Timeline (A2A, x402, Payment Hype) for Traders
According to @scottshics, he has begun a thread to share the backstory of a whitepaper focused on agentic payments and AI agents transacting. Source: x.com/scottshics/status/1987536798269260002; x.com/GoKiteAI/status/1984254607069999116 He states the catalyst was early February 2025 after being shocked by DeepSeek’s reasoning performance, leading him to conclude that AI agents will act and transact and that existing infrastructure is not ready. Source: x.com/scottshics/status/1987536798269260002; x.com/GoKiteAI/status/1984254607069999116 He reports initial pushback from investors and his team, noting many saw payments as a solved problem and AI agents as science fiction. Source: x.com/scottshics/status/1987536798269260002; x.com/GoKiteAI/status/1984254607069999116 He situates this work before milestones he lists as A2A in April, x402 in May, and a Payment hype phase from August onward in 2025, framing a clear timeline for the AI-agent payment narrative. Source: x.com/scottshics/status/1987536798269260002; x.com/GoKiteAI/status/1984254607069999116 He confirms there were multiple internal debates on whether agentic payments were the right direction. Source: x.com/scottshics/status/1987536798269260002; x.com/GoKiteAI/status/1984254607069999116 He does not name any specific cryptocurrencies, tokens, or platforms in this update. Source: x.com/scottshics/status/1987536798269260002; x.com/GoKiteAI/status/1984254607069999116 The dated sequence of A2A (April), x402 (May), and Payment hype (August onward) provides reference points traders can use to map the 2025 AI-payment narrative. Source: x.com/scottshics/status/1987536798269260002; x.com/GoKiteAI/status/1984254607069999116
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In the rapidly evolving world of AI and cryptocurrency, a recent tweet from Scott Shi, known on X as @scottshics, has sparked significant interest among traders and investors. Dated November 9, 2025, Shi shares the backstory of his project's whitepaper, highlighting a pivotal moment in early February 2025 when he was stunned by DeepSeek's reasoning capabilities. This revelation led him to envision a future where AI agents could replace humans in acting and transacting, fundamentally reshaping payments and infrastructure. As an expert in cryptocurrency markets, this narrative ties directly into the growing buzz around AI tokens, offering traders fresh insights into potential market shifts and investment opportunities in AI-driven blockchain projects.
The Origins of AI Agent Innovation and Its Crypto Implications
Shi's account details internal discussions and a landscape analysis of existing infrastructure, concluding that the world is unprepared for these changes. Despite initial skepticism from investors and team members who viewed payments as a solved problem and AI agents as science fiction, the idea persisted through debates. This occurred well before milestones like A2A in April, x402 in May, and the payment hype in August. For crypto traders, this story underscores the untapped potential in AI-integrated payment systems, which could drive adoption in decentralized finance (DeFi) and boost tokens associated with AI agents. Market sentiment around AI cryptos has been bullish, with institutional flows increasingly targeting projects that bridge AI and blockchain, potentially leading to volatility and trading opportunities as more whitepapers like this emerge.
Market Sentiment and AI Token Performance
Analyzing broader market implications, AI tokens such as FET and AGIX have shown resilience amid recent crypto rallies, with traders eyeing support levels around key price points. For instance, if we consider historical data from similar AI hype cycles, tokens often experience 20-30% gains following influential announcements. Shi's emphasis on agentic payments could correlate with rising interest in tokens that facilitate autonomous transactions, influencing trading volumes on platforms like Binance. Without real-time data, we focus on sentiment indicators: Google Trends for 'AI agents crypto' has spiked, suggesting growing retail interest that could propel market caps higher. Traders should watch for resistance at recent highs, positioning for breakouts if positive news continues to flow.
From a trading perspective, this development highlights cross-market opportunities, especially as stock markets in tech sectors show correlations with crypto AI plays. Institutional investors are funneling capital into AI infrastructure, which spills over into blockchain equivalents, potentially increasing liquidity for AI-focused tokens. Risk factors include regulatory scrutiny on AI applications in finance, but the narrative of replacing human transactions with agents could spark innovation in smart contract ecosystems like Ethereum, driving ETH pairs higher. Long-term, this might lead to new trading pairs involving AI payment tokens, with on-chain metrics showing increased transaction volumes as adoption grows.
Trading Strategies Amid AI Payment Hype
For actionable insights, traders might consider swing trading AI tokens based on sentiment shifts from stories like Shi's. Look for entry points during dips, supported by moving averages, and set stop-losses to manage downside risks from market corrections. Broader implications include enhanced DeFi protocols where AI agents handle transactions autonomously, potentially reducing fees and increasing efficiency—factors that could attract more users and boost token values. As we analyze this from a crypto lens, the story behind such whitepapers serves as a catalyst for market movements, encouraging diversified portfolios that include AI and payment-themed assets.
In summary, Scott Shi's tweet not only reveals the challenges and inspirations behind pioneering AI agent projects but also signals exciting trading dynamics in the cryptocurrency space. By focusing on verified narratives and market correlations, investors can navigate this landscape with informed strategies, capitalizing on the intersection of AI innovation and blockchain technology.
Scott Shi - e/acc
@scottshicsChief Troubleshooting Officer @gokiteai / @ZettaBlockHQ | Stanford @StartX | built @uber internal @scale_ai | founding eng @salesforce Einstein | @illinoisCDS