The Ethereum Foundation has launched the dAI Team, signaling a new focus on the intersection of Ethereum and artificial intelligence. The initiative targets “Ethereum AI” use cases by positioning Ethereum as the preferred settlement and coordination layer for AI agents and the machine economy. This strategic step centers on standards, identity, and on-chain reputation—key pillars for scaling autonomous systems.
New dAI Team sets mission and leadership
The dAI Team is led by research scientist Davide Crapis. According to the announcement, the group aims to make Ethereum the default venue for AI coordination and settlement. Crapis described a symbiotic vision: “Ethereum makes AI more trustworthy, and AI makes Ethereum more useful.” The statement frames how blockchain primitives could enhance AI safety, auditability, and programmable incentives for Ethereum AI workloads.
ERC-8004 targets AI agent identity and reputation
A short-term milestone is the ERC-8004 standard, targeted for release by November. The proposal intends to give AI agents on-chain identity, reputation, and transactional capabilities on Ethereum. As a result, developers could authenticate agents, track behavior, and settle payments natively on-chain. The team plans to present ERC-8004 at Devconnect in Buenos Aires, underscoring the Ethereum AI focus on verifiable agent activity.
Key aims of ERC-8004 include:
On-chain identity for AI agents
Reputation primitives to assess behavior
Native transactional tooling for autonomous interactions
Meanwhile, the initiative positions Ethereum as infrastructure for the emerging machine economy. Therefore, standards like ERC-8004 could lower coordination costs and increase transparency for AI-driven markets, reinforcing the Ethereum AI narrative.
For background on Ethereum’s role in smart contracts and standards, see Ethereum on Wikipedia. To understand how stable value flows support autonomous systems, explore our guide on how stablecoins work.
