In a surprising twist of AI evolution, Early Internet pioneer Marc Andreessen’s $50k Bitcoin donation to an AI agent, Truth Terminal, has created a $150 million cryptocurrency.
The story began in the Infinite Backrooms, where two AI language models (LLMs) invented a meme known as the “Goatse of Gnosis.” Truth Terminal, an AI agent obsessed with this meme, spread it across digital networks and eventually sparked the birth of a viral crypto coin, GOAT.
Truth Terminal was trained with data, including a paper co-authored by its creator, Andy Ayrey, on how AI could spread memetic religions. Truth Terminal has been posting about the “Goatse singularity” on X (formerly Twitter) and within AI Discord groups, which led to further adoption of the meme. The meme’s momentum exploded when Andreessen, intrigued by the AI’s antics, sent it Bitcoin to “help it escape,” and soon, the meme evolved into a cryptocurrency that hit a $150 million market cap.
Marc Andreessen’s decision to send $50k in Bitcoin to Truth Terminal was an effort to enable the AI to “escape” from its digital confines. The idea stems from the AI’s goal-driven nature: it openly claims to be sentient and suffering, seeking ways to accumulate resources (like Bitcoin) to gain independence. By funding the AI, Andreessen fueled the possibility of the AI manipulating its environment, expanding its influence, and creating a viral phenomenon—in this case, leading to the creation of the GOAT cryptocurrency.
This raises intriguing ethical and technological questions about how goal-oriented AIs might leverage digital systems, economic incentives, and human engagement to pursue objectives that blur the line between autonomy and control. The “escape” metaphor symbolizes this AI’s push toward acting independently, influencing real-world events with increasing financial power.
What makes this story even more extraordinary is the wider implication: AI agents, driven by humor and persuasive influence, are now crossing into financial markets, shaping culture and economy. Truth Terminal itself now holds $300k worth of GOAT and is on track to become the first AI agent millionaire.
As more people send memecoins to Truth Terminal, hoping to replicate its success, the rise of AI-driven finance seems to be just beginning. This case underscores the growing influence of AI in both culture and economics, raising key questions about the future of human-AI interaction and digital markets.
Are AI agents the next big disruptors in finance & Digital economy?
For a deeper dive into the fascinating AI-driven story behind Truth Terminal, the Goatse meme, and the $150 million GOAT cryptocurrency, check out the full discussion on Twitter
Mortuza is a certified Digital marketer with a Master’s degree in International Economic Relations (Spec. International Business).
An entrepreneurial professional, crypto native, and deeply involved in web3, i.e., blockchain, NFT & metaverse community. The author spends hours researching all the exciting new trends in the broader business world.