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2025 Predictions: The Year Crypto, AI, and Gaming Redefine the Future

Happy New Year, everyone! As we step into 2025, I have the urge to give into the crystal ball and predict what it could shape into. So many industries are poised for another year of transformative shifts, from the ongoing evolution of crypto markets to the rise of AI-powered tools and groundbreaking developments from gaming to health. I'm here for it all!


One thing to understand is that these predictions come through the lens of a Web3 gaming founder and tech investor focusing on AI and crypto. So, with that disclaimer out of the way, let's kick this off with some general predictions. Here's what I'll cover, so feel free to jump around.


  1. General

  2. Artificial Intelligence

  3. Crypto

  4. Gaming

  5. Biotech (more Health)


General


OK, let's get the most obvious point out of the way first. AI will be all over 2025 predictions, but I'll try and look into the 2nd order effects. And since I'm a bad news first kind of guy, let's get the first, and not-so-major, prediction out of the way.


1. Layoffs accelerate amid AI automation

The wave of layoffs seen in 2024 will continue as companies increasingly rely on AI. Leaders like Klarna’s founder and CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski recently stated, “AI can now do any job we need it to, including my own.” This shift will redefine workforces across industries, prioritizing AI over humans for various tasks.


Pt. 2 Hybrid Work Becomes AI-Augmented Work

AI tools will redefine hybrid work environments, automating routine tasks while creating demand for more strategic, human-centered roles. It's simple: you need operators when you require fewer individual contributors.


2. Global AI Regulation Race

Countries will compete to set global AI rules. This will influence adoption and may spark trade conflicts over differing policies. At the same time, there will be a group that sets loose regulations in a bid to take the lead in mercurial tech. I'll get into Agents joining the workforce, but the winners will welcome it, and the losers will regulate it.


3. Decentralized Capital Investment Takes Off

Decentralized investment platforms will upend traditional early capital markets. Tokenized equity, DeFi lending, and DAOs will enable investors to bypass traditional gatekeepers and participate directly in funding rounds, reshaping how capital flows.


As a limited partner in a few smaller funds, I regret locking up my capital for 8-10 years. Given the market's potential returns, the illiquidity doesn't make sense. This is especially true in crypto, where entry point differences are tiny.


4. Universal Basic Income (UBI) gains massive traction

Suppose the above three are partially true, as automation displaces more jobs. In that case, UBI will move from a theoretical concept to a pilot or policy in Tier 1 economies, reshaping global labor markets.


What will be most poignant in the debate will be the question, "What is a valuable action for humanity?" Traditional thought is more or less based the answer on a person's economic impact. This will have to be reevaluated.


Artificial Intelligence (AI)


1. AI Marketing Tools Everywhere

I tend to lean toward Eric Seufert's theory that "Everything is an Ad Network." This is the most pressing topic of any startup, scaleup, and investor conversation. 2025 will see an explosion of AI-driven marketing tools.


These solutions will hyper-personalize campaigns, optimize ad spend, and automate and execute entire go-to-market (GTM) strategies. Companies that adopt these tools early will gain a competitive edge in 24/7 distribution, unparalleled content production, and broad reach.


While larger gaming companies are busy arguing over AI's moral/social implications, they will lose to those employing the tech.


2. AI and Gaming Integration

AI will embed itself into gaming, revolutionizing gameplay and how games are made, marketed, and monetized. Predictive analytics, automated user acquisition, and personalized in-game experiences will become standard. The business side of AI applications makes too much sense, but I am beginning to get iffy about some gameplay use cases.


I find AI NPCs a gigantic nothing burger. The way people explain their optimal use case by nature saturates human interaction. What's the difference between multiplayer and PvE gameplay? Or how do I know I am playing with someone without verification?


3. Nvidia announces its platform for decentralized compute for AI


This is 100% out of thin air, but it started to make more and more sense after Jensen's CES presentation today and is more likely a 2026 initiative.


They create a platform to network Nvidia hardware that allows its customers to monetize their idle compute. By itself, it simply reinforces its position in the industry, but I think it creates a flywheel by announcing its new PC.


Project DIGITS PC is their Microsoft PC moment. They aim to make AI computing as affordable as high-end PCs. For $3,000, you get 20 Arm CPU cores, 128GB of DDR5 memory, and 1 PetaFLOP of AI computing. This will let you run AI models up to 200B parameters locally.
Project DIGITS PC is their Microsoft PC moment. They aim to make AI computing as affordable as high-end PCs. For $3,000, you get 20 Arm CPU cores, 128GB of DDR5 memory, and 1 PetaFLOP of AI computing. This will let you run AI models up to 200B parameters locally.

3. AGI is technically achieved in 2025

I'm honestly unsure if this is a clever take or utterly dumb. If we believe the o3 ARK-AGI test results, we should achieve this in Q1 or Q2. But this is such a monumental human achievement it's wild to look at it as a "gimme" prediction.


Alignment Research Center (ARC) designed this test to evaluate whether advanced AI systems demonstrate behavior consistent with artificial general intelligence (AGI)
Alignment Research Center (ARC) designed this test to evaluate whether advanced AI systems demonstrate behavior consistent with artificial general intelligence (AGI)

CRYPTO


1. The AI Feeding Frenzy Peaks

In Q1 2025, the AI craze will reach its zenith as a wave of infrastructure-focused projects is listed on major centralized exchanges (CEXs). However, the excitement will soon fade. The market will be saturated with similar products, and valuations will hit unsustainable levels.


2. Meme coins make a Comeback

As AI projects lose their shine, meme tokens will slowly regain favor. They do not hold any greater utility-like purpose; instead, investors view the risk/return asymmetry as optimal compared to blue chips, which, over time, begin to offer more traditional returns.


As new capital enters the space, their simplicity, cultural resonance, and appeal to retail investors will spark a renaissance, primarily as the market seeks lighter, more entertaining narratives.


3. Solana ETF and the Flippening?

Solana could make history with an ETF approval, marking the first significant push to challenge Ethereum’s dominance. With strong fundamentals, increased adoption, and institutional interest, Solana might become a serious contender for flipping ETH.

They have a clear lead in meaningful adoption metrics, like daily wallet address interactions, transactions, and fee generation. BUT...


4. Base Network’s Rapid Ascent

Coinbase’s Base network will continue eating into L2 market share, fueled by consistent net inflows (+$2.4B over three months). Its developer-friendly ecosystem and seamless integration with Coinbase will position it as a key player in 2025.

Net flow is the amount of net capital flowing into or out of a chain.
Net flow is the amount of net capital flowing into or out of a chain.

I've talked with several builders, founders, and execs in the Base ecosystem, and each one had a common theme. Visions focusing on simplicity and believing it's as simple as a clear and understandable UX with a great product that will win in 2025.


Pt. 2 DeFi 2.0 Revival

Enhanced decentralized finance protocols will emerge with better risk management, user-friendly interfaces, and institutional-grade products, reviving interest in DeFi. At the time of this writing, the majority of this is happening on Base.


5. Sovereign Bitcoin Reserves Reach Tier 1 Nations

Bitcoin’s adoption as a sovereign reserve asset could enter Tier 1 nations, sparking a supply crunch. Countries like Brazil or Japan might lead the charge, triggering increased scarcity and higher prices for BTC.

Senator Cynthia Lummis has been pushing for a Bitcoin Strategic reserve since mid-2024. New seats held by pro-crypto members have markets hopeful.
Senator Cynthia Lummis has been pushing for a Bitcoin Strategic reserve since mid-2024. New seats held by pro-crypto members have markets hopeful.

6. Chain-agnostic protocols take center stage

As multi-chain ecosystems grow, interoperability solutions like Cosmos and LayerZero will gain greater adoption, solving fragmentation issues and improving liquidity flow between chains.


I felt this advancing swiftly through 2024 as chains became more open to offering grants without exclusivity. I expect this to be a central theme as the race to unlock liquidity becomes an easy win.


7. Tokenized Intellectual Property (IP)

As blockchain grows, new ways to leverage tokenization will emerge. IP seems prime for a foray into creative industries and mediums.


The tokenization of copyrights, patents, and creative works will emerge, enabling new funding models and fractional ownership for creators and innovators.


It makes sense that the tokenization of IP is gaining traction, especially for something as simple as crowdfunding and extending to multi-party licensing deals.


GAMING


1. Mobile Web3 Gaming: The first big win

You may say I'm biased, but mobile gaming will lead to blockchain’s mainstream adoption. Its accessibility and massive user base make it the perfect entry point for Web3 gaming. We've had little hope in the past with v1 play-to-earn (P2E) models, but newer models are emerging and redefined for sustainability.


I've written about the two types of success we need for the industry, but this looks explicitly at commercial success, so a game making $100m in 2025 with a clear growth trajectory.


2. AI-driven marketing dominates GTM

AI-based marketing will revolutionize gaming’s go-to-market strategies. Developers will leverage AI tools to hyper-target audiences, refine messaging, and optimize launch campaigns in ways that traditional methods never could.


3. The GTA 6 Effect

A huge if, but if there is any, and I mean ANY, blockchain within the GTA 6 code, we see a critical success. If the integration is meaningful, it will be THE commercial success of 2025 and beyond.

If Rockstar integrates blockchain into GTA 6, it will be the ultimate game-changer—a true metaverse bootloader. Such a move would set a new standard, leaving other projects looking obsolete by comparison. I'll write up a quick X post to cover my thoughts here, but based on:

  • Blockchain Adoption and Normalization

  • P2E v2 – Democratized Monetization

  • The Ultimate Metaverse Play


4. P2E v2 expands globally

Play-to-earn is set to evolve. The next wave will target Tier 2 geographies before entering Tier 1 markets. This version will focus on fairer economies, better gameplay, and sustainable growth. Think of the current mobile F2P feature set (console and PC heavily rely on these proven mechanics) enabled by Blockchain. This creates deeper tie-ins with engagement, retention, and monetization while broadening the value offered to players.


5. Generative AI tools for game creation

In 2025, one of the primary game engines (Unity or Unreal) will release a generative AI-powered co-pilot feature. This tool will provide real-time feedback in the console, assisting developers with tasks like debugging, procedural generation, creating personalized stories, and refining player-generated content.


The move would make even more sense for Unity. From finding a potential monetization feature to reinforcing democratizing access to high-quality tools, this feature could attract more indie developers looking to accelerate game creation.


6. Gaming DAOs as publishers will fail

2024 saw several DAOs evolve into community-driven gaming publishers, funding development, marketing, and even content curation for Web3 games. It might be easy to nay-say them after a slow year, but as someone with A LOT of experience working at top publishers, the experience gap is too broad.


The vision for the future is understandably limited as many chase narratives, and those who don't have Shiny Object Syndrome aren't equipped to take on the market competition's reach. Sadly, neither can take on traditional games' bank role.


Most of the options I've evaluated subtly turned into an "I scratch your back, and you scratch mine" conversation. Talks about go-to-market (GTM) strategies are the dead giveaway—*spoiler* you won't scale based on leveraging community engagement and KOLs.


I hope I'm wrong, but the writing is on the wall.


Bio-Tech


I want to touch on a few Bio-tech predictions for fun since I keep a close eye on it. I have high hopes for massive breakthroughs to bypass many healthcare issues the modern world faces.

1. Wearable Tech Meets Blockchain

Data privacy and ownership are key concerns preventing many from adopting wearables. I anticipate a new wave of blockchain-enabled wearables and devices that protect your data while monitoring health metrics and fitness achievements, potentially influencing insurance premiums.


By encrypting and decentralizing data, these devices will usher in a new era of privacy-focused healthcare, facilitating trust among patients, providers, and insurers.


2. AI in Personalized Medicine

Artificial intelligence will move beyond research labs to become a staple in everyday healthcare. Predictive algorithms should synthesize genetic data, lifestyle habits, and medical histories, enabling hyper-targeted diagnostics and treatment plans. This next-level personalization promises earlier disease detection and therapies precisely tailored to individual genetic profiles.


I'm already mixing medical test results with AI analysis, and companies are beginning to launch full-fledged products. A few to watch are DXAI for medical imaging analysis and BitDoctor for personal health using your phone.


3. Biohacking and Decentralized Wellness

As biohacking continues its push toward going mainstream (Don't Die, anyone?), decentralized platforms will empower individuals to control and possibly monetize their health information. This shift places the patient at the center, reinforcing the value of real-time self-monitoring and incentivizing proactive wellness.


With the explosion of data, tools, and personalized insights, I expect a reshaping of the health and wellness market, putting more power and opportunity into the hands of consumers.


Final Thoughts: A Year to Watch


2025 will be a year of crazy experimentation and significant recalibration. Whether it’s crypto redefining aging financial systems, AI reshaping our lives, or Web3 gaming finally delivering on its promises, adaptability will be key. Short-term success will be plentiful, but long-term success will favor those who can navigate these shifts with agility and foresight.


The only way out is through. For industries, businesses, and investors alike, 2025 will demand resilience, innovation, and courage to embrace the supersonic change.
















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