Exclusive Interview with Shaw, Founder of ai16z: The Eliza Framework, DAO Innovation, and How AI is Reshaping the Future of Web3

By Asher, Odaily Planet Daily

Yesterday (December 23), Shaw—the creator of the Eliza framework and founder of ai16z DAO—attended a fan meetup in Shanghai and sat down with Odaily Planet Daily for an interview. He shared updates on ai16z, degenai, the deeply integrated ELIZA project, and his outlook on how the AI sector will impact Web3 in 2025.

Interview Transcript

Odaily Planet Daily: You've become quite popular in the Web3 space recently. That must bring some pressure. Could you share your personal journey and why you chose to step out of anonymity this past year?

Shaw:

I didn’t intentionally step into the spotlight—I never expected this at all. It feels really strange because I used to be just a programmer, completely unknown. At one point, I was even anonymous. But over time, I started feeling disconnected from people, so I decided to try being myself and showing up authentically online. Then I released the Eliza framework, which unexpectedly became hugely popular and completely changed my life. I never anticipated any of this. Honestly, I hadn't even realized there was such a thing as a “spotlight” for developers before.

There is external pressure, yes. I used to love promoting other projects simply because I genuinely believed in them and wanted to share what I found valuable. But as our DAO grew larger, everyone began focusing intensely on token-related matters, creating internal pressure that made it harder for me to freely talk about projects I personally liked.

Odaily Planet Daily: The Eliza framework is now one of the most watched projects on GitHub. What makes it special?

Shaw:

I think there are three main reasons. First, it's truly plug-and-play. There are many existing AI agent and large language model (LLM) tools—they're great toolkits, but you still need to build the entire agent yourself. With Eliza, once you launch it, it runs right away and includes everything you might need. It also comes with many built-in plugins like Solana and EVM integrations.

Second, the core of AI agents revolves around the web. Many people limit AI to Python-based research or model development, but I believe the real power lies in connecting these models to people via the internet. That’s why we built Eliza using TypeScript—a language well-suited for Web3, especially given JavaScript/TypeScript’s strong ecosystem. This allows many developers to jump in easily.

Third, we focus heavily on social loops. We’ve built connectors for platforms like X, Discord, and Telegram, allowing developers to deploy bots directly onto X without writing any code. From there, they can extend functionality—for example, integrating EVM chains adds wallet capabilities with minimal code changes. Or if you have your own software and APIs, you can let the agent call them. Starting from social media is key. Agents can promote themselves virally across networks, making others want their own—leading to rapid adoption. I think this self-reinforcing cycle is exactly why Eliza succeeded: easy deployment on X leads to widespread visibility and fast user acquisition.

Odaily Planet Daily: Last week, ai16z launched on Binance Alpha and OKX futures trading. Are there plans for deeper collaboration with major exchanges?

Shaw:

Absolutely. We have team members dedicated to partnerships, and I expect more token listings and progress after the new year holidays. However, I can't commit to specific timelines. Listings on Binance and Coinbase feel inevitable, but I'm primarily focused on AI agent development, so I can't make guarantees nor provide investment advice.

Odaily Planet Daily: How is ai16z different from previous DAOs in the Web3 space?

Shaw:

I think the biggest issue with earlier DAOs was this: decentralization was achieved, but true autonomy wasn’t. They weren’t really “autonomous.” Significant human coordination was still required, leading to problems like power concentration—often in the hands of a few whales who control voting rights—and high barriers for newcomers wanting to contribute.

This short-term thinking exposed many coordination flaws. That’s where our technology comes in—to enable broader participation and reward meaningful contributions. We’re developing a mechanism called "continuous retroactive funding." The idea is simple: whether you contribute code, assist in Discord working groups, or help in any impactful way, you get rewarded. Unlike traditional airdrops, this is an ongoing contributor incentive system—we plan to distribute rewards monthly. We're currently building the infrastructure to support this.

Odaily Planet Daily: Does ai16z DAO have a future business model? If so, what is it?

Shaw:

Yes, our business model centers on token value accumulation. We also make strategic investments—mainly in projects we believe hold strong potential, such as token launch platforms, DeFi protocols, and ecosystems leveraging AI agents.

We’re not a traditional startup backed by VCs, but we do have access to a substantial treasury funded by a whale donation. We use this capital to invest in important projects and generate returns. Additionally, we’re building our own token launch platform through collaboration with invested teams. Think of it somewhat like a Baidu-style foundation—we're already engaging in deeper cooperation with Baidu Foundation and several other initiatives.

Odaily Planet Daily: Over the weekend, ai16z mentioned integrating its ecosystem tokenomics—will mechanisms like staking and burning increase token value?

Shaw:

I don’t think burning tokens is particularly effective. Based on my experience, token burns sometimes feel like a sell-off and don’t necessarily support long-term value. In fact, if I were to burn tokens myself, some community members might get upset, perceiving it as undermining their incentives. That said, I believe staking is very important. Any mechanism that locks up tokens will likely be well received. Our current challenge post-listing has been severe liquidity issues—for instance, having a $1 billion market cap but only $4 million in liquidity clearly isn’t sustainable.

Odaily Planet Daily: Regarding degenai, you previously mentioned on X that its AI agent would launch soon. Can you reveal what kind of AI agent it will be and its core competitive edge?

Shaw:

Yes, degenai is launching soon—it’ll be our first character-based agent and will come with a built-in wallet. Degenai gathers trading signals from social media. We track certain KOLs: Are they actually sharing quality recommendations? Do their suggestions lead to profits, or are they just “rugging” followers? At its core, degenai builds a trust scoring system based on behavioral data to inform trading decisions. Ultimately, our goal is to create tools not just for us, but that users can replicate and deploy within their own communities. For example, users could automate trades without manually navigating Phantom or DEX Screener.

We’re also developing a second character using the same underlying tech but with slightly different functions. While we’ve shared some details publicly, we’re still in testing phase and only opened a very small, invite-only Alpha chat group where selected users exchange trade insights.

Odaily Planet Daily: You co-developed the ELIZA project closely with ai16z, yet chose to hand it over to the AVA team instead of launching it yourself. Was it because you trusted them to execute better? How will you continue supporting the project moving forward?

Shaw:

The AVA team showed me an early prototype, and I thought it was impressive—I immediately wanted to collaborate to ensure the project met high-quality standards. They also have exceptional developers. Their vision goes beyond offering decentralized features; they aim to surpass existing Eliza implementations in both user experience and functionality. They want to redefine ELIZA—not just as a token or AI project, but as a comprehensive platform encompassing various tools, services, and an expanded ecosystem.

Our support for ELIZA includes:

• Technical Support: Ongoing assistance including code reviews, optimizations, and help implementing core functionalities;

• Resource Integration: Deep collaboration leveraging our ecosystem, shared marketing channels, and industry networks;

• Community Outreach: Utilizing our community resources to expand their user base and ensure smooth migration for existing Eliza token holders to the new platform or upgraded features;

• Financial Backing: If needed, we’ll evaluate direct investment or participation in tokenomics to support long-term growth.

We strongly believe in their potential and see the project aligning well with market needs and user expectations. They have the freedom and creativity to drive ELIZA forward, while our support ensures solid foundational development, alignment with our overall mission, and respect for their independence.

Odaily Planet Daily: Whether in Web2 or Web3, AI is widely anticipated in 2025. Do you think AI in Web3 will outperform past trends like GameFi Summer or DeFi Summer?

Shaw:

Possibly. Ultimately, it depends on the broader economy. If major assets like Bitcoin continue performing well, markets may keep rising. But beyond macro factors, I firmly believe AI will fundamentally transform how the internet operates. Right now, AI agents are just getting started. Take X, for example—most content I see today seems AI-related. The pace of change feels insane.

Odaily Planet Daily: Finally, what advice would you give to newcomers entering the Web3 AI space?

Shaw:

Do your own research (DYOR). So many people lose money simply because they didn’t read or learn anything beforehand. They follow blindly and only complain after losses occur. In fast-moving environments like PVP (player versus player trading), trends shift rapidly—within minutes, you could 1x, 10x, or lose everything. This speed breeds herd mentality. But those who conduct thorough research—understanding each project deeply, identifying differences between them—stand a much higher chance of making sound investment decisions.

Beyond buying tokens, another way to earn is through liquidity mining. Buy top-tier, high-performing tokens and deposit them into liquidity pools. You might miss the 10x early entry gain, but you’ll secure consistent, long-term returns—that’s what really matters.