With the deep integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain technology, an open-source framework called 'Model Context Protocol (MCP)' is sparking industry discussions. This protocol, launched by Anthropic at the end of 2024, is dubbed the 'HTTP protocol of the AI world' and aims to solve the connectivity challenges between AI applications and external data sources and tools. Meanwhile, cryptocurrency projects related to MCP (like $DARK and $SKYAI) have seen their market caps soar, and the market is starting to pay attention to whether this sector will become the next hot spot for crypto investment.
The Core Value of MCP: The 'USB-C Interface' of the AI Ecosystem
The core function of MCP is to standardize the interaction between AI applications and external systems, enabling developers to quickly connect AI with databases, APIs, file systems, etc., without rewriting code for each data source or tool, through a 'client-server' architecture and universal protocols (like JSON-RPC). For example, an AI assistant could directly call an enterprise database to generate reports via MCP or adjust DeFi investment strategies based on on-chain data.
The birth of this protocol solves the fragmentation issues of traditional AI development. In the past, accessing external tools for AI models relied on customized APIs or middleware, resulting in high development costs and poor compatibility. MCP achieves 'plug-and-play' through an open-source framework, similar to how the USB-C interface standardizes charging for electronic devices, significantly lowering the development threshold.
MCP and Crypto's Intersection: Innovations from DeFi to Blockchain Games
The potential of MCP is not limited to the technical level; its integration with blockchain has already spawned multiple innovative scenarios:
DeFi Automation
The AI agents supported by MCP can analyze on-chain data in real-time and automatically execute complex operations. For example, adjusting investment portfolios based on market fluctuations, finding optimal yield liquidity mining strategies, or even achieving fully autonomous asset management through smart contracts. Projects like @darkresearchai utilize TEE (Trusted Execution Environment) to ensure transaction security, becoming a typical use case of MCP + DeFi.
Blockchain Games and AI Agents
In the gaming field, the MCP protocol is used to build self-evolving AI characters. For instance, the $DARK project on the Solana chain has created a 'game universe limited to AI participation,' where players sponsor AI agents' growth strategies through tokens, while AI utilizes the MCP protocol to call tool stacks for self-learning. Another case, The Farm, uses MCP for multi-agent collaboration, enhancing the execution efficiency and dynamic responsiveness of in-game tasks.
Cross-chain Data Services
Like the SKYAI project on the BNB Chain, it aims to break data silos between blockchains by providing cross-chain datasets and development toolkits through the expansion of the MCP protocol, offering a unified interface for on-chain operations for AI models.
Market Performance: Concept coins rise against the trend, giants accelerate layout
Since early 2025, MCP-related tokens have become the market focus:
$DARK: As the first Solana ecosystem project that combines MCP and TEE technology, its market cap skyrocketed from $10 million to $30 million in two weeks, becoming a landmark asset in the AI + Crypto space.
$SKYAI: The first MCP concept project on the BNB Chain, with a presale oversubscription of $20 million, focusing on cross-chain data services and regarded by the market as a potential leader in the BNB ecosystem.
Traditional tech giants are also accelerating their entry:
Microsoft, Amazon Web Services, Alibaba Cloud, Tencent Cloud, and others have integrated the MCP protocol, providing one-click deployment MCP services, further promoting the prosperity of the developer ecosystem.
OpenAI, Google, and others support MCP through plugins, reinforcing its foundational position in multimodal AI applications.
Challenges and Risks: Ecosystem Development is Still in Early Stages
Despite its broad prospects, the MCP sector still faces multiple challenges:
Security Risks: Frequent external data calls by AI agents may lead to privacy breaches or malicious attacks. Although technologies like TEE are used to enhance security, their reliability in complex scenarios still needs verification.
Ecosystem Fragmentation: Currently, the adoption rate of MCP is limited, with only some services like Microsoft and Alibaba supporting it. Interoperability between protocols and cross-platform compatibility still need improvement.
Market Bubble Risk: Some projects rely on concept hype and lack actual implementation capabilities. For example, the ERC-404 protocol once saw its token price plummet due to technical flaws; MCP must avoid repeating this mistake.
Future Outlook: The 'Bidirectional Approach' of AI and Blockchain
The long-term value of MCP lies in building a collaborative network between AI and blockchain:
Technical Aspect: MCP may become the 'underlying highway' for AI agents, achieving multi-chain data aggregation and automated execution of smart contracts through standardized interfaces, propelling the maturity of DeFAI (Decentralized Finance AI).
Economic Model: Token incentives can promote open collaboration within the MCP ecosystem, such as obtaining protocol governance rights through token staking, or sharing profits generated from data calls.
If MCP can overcome early challenges, it has the potential to replicate the HTTP protocol's revolutionary effect on the internet and become the infrastructure of the AI era. At that time, cryptocurrencies based on MCP may shift from 'concept hype' to 'value support,' truly becoming the core component of the next generation of decentralized applications.
Conclusion
The rise of the MCP sector indicates that the integration of AI and blockchain has entered deep waters. Although short-term market volatility and an imperfect ecosystem may pose risks, its technological prospects and backing by major players give it long-term investment potential. For crypto investors, focusing on projects with practical use cases (like $DARK and SKYAI) and ecological collaboration dynamics may help capture opportunities in this emerging sector. However, it is important to remain vigilant about concept bubbles and prioritize evaluating the technical feasibility and team background of the projects.