AI Agent Token VIRTUAL Surges 32% on Genesis Launch Updates

Virtuals Protocol is up almost 30% today after the project revealed new features of its AI agent token launch mechanism, Genesis.

The AI agent protocol’s native asset, VIRTUAL, is up 130% over the past seven days, putting it solidly in CoinGecko’s top gainers list. The renewed investment drove its market capitalization up above $1 billion for the first time since February, though still well below its all-time high of $4.5 billion in January.

The recent growth is part of a larger boom in the AI agent token sector.

Virtuals Protocol's agent token distribution mechanism, Genesis, launched in mid-April on Ethereum Layer 2 (L2) Base. The new feature, which went live on April 30, allows AI agent developers to easily make their auto-locking and vesting schedules for their token allocations public.

Speaking to its users, known as "Virgens," Virtuals Protocol said on X yesterday, “Virgens can now view these vesting choices in full detail, helping them make informed decisions about which projects to back.”

On the developer side, devs can allocate and lock up to 50% of their unallocated developer token supply, showing categories such as “core team” or “marketing and operations,” and entering the recipients and amount of tokens they will receive, the X post explains.

“This is another step toward making Genesis a launchpad where real projects thrive, and rugs don’t,” Virtual Protocol said in yesterday’s post. “More transparency. Less risk. Virgens, do your research. Developers, build with confidence.”

Adding to the project’s momentum, the team just announced another Genesis update today, May 1. Per the new feature, so-called “Recognized Staked Agents” are eligible for point staking via the launchpad, rewarding AI agent builders.

Another evident driver of the VIRTUAL token’s price is its listing on Binance.US earlier this week.