Morning Minute is a daily newsletter by Tyler Warner. The analysis and opinions expressed are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of Decrypt.

MetaMask Unveils Agent Wallet for Autonomous AI Trading

MetaMask launched Agent Wallet on Thursday, a self-custodial wallet that enables AI agents to execute cryptocurrency trades autonomously within user-defined limits. The launch arrives as several projects race to build agent-specific infrastructure, but MetaMask's emphasis on self-custody means users retain control of their private keys—a structural distinction from custodial AI trading services that hold assets on a user's behalf.

The wallet allows AI agents to perform swaps, trade perpetuals, place prediction-market bets, and stake assets across Ethereum-compatible chains and Hyperliquid. Users must first configure three safety parameters: set a spending cap, specify which protocols the agent may access, and select a risk setting.

Agent Wallet offers two operational modes:

• Guard Mode (default): Users pre-approve the specific protocols and addresses the agent may interact with. Any transaction falling outside these pre-approved parameters, or exceeding the spending limit, triggers a pause requiring two-factor authentication (2FA) before execution.

• Beast Mode: Removes the allowlist entirely, allowing the agent to trade freely without approval prompts. Real-time threat scanning serves as the primary safeguard, though user spending caps and a malicious-transaction 2FA backstop remain in effect.

Every transaction undergoes simulation, threat scanning, and MEV (maximal extractable value) protection. Eligible trades are covered by up to $10,000 per month in loss protection. The wallet integrates with existing AI development tools including Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, and OpenClaw. Gas fees are handled automatically, settled in whichever token is being transferred, eliminating the need for agents to hold a chain's native coin. No token is attached to the product.

MetaMask is not the first entrant in this space. Coinbase launched agentic wallets in February, and MoonPay has been developing similar technology since spring. However, MetaMask holds approximately a quarter of the wallet market, making it the largest player to enter the category. Consensys and founder Joe Lubin appear to be positioning the company around the thesis that autonomous agents will drive the next wave of onchain activity.

Macro Crypto and Markets

Crypto majors posted modest gains. Bitcoin (BTC) rose 0.4% to approximately $65,000. Ethereum (ETH) held flat at $1,913, while Solana (SOL) remained even at $73.50. Hyperliquid's HYPE token gained 2% to $56.70.

Top-performing altcoins included LIT (+11%), ADA (+7%), and ENA (+6%).

In traditional markets, oil gained 1% to $76.80, and gold rose 2% to $4,380. U.S. stock futures were positive ahead of new employment data: the Dow Jones Industrial Average futures rose 0.1%, and Nasdaq futures climbed 0.5%.

The Clarity Act vote was officially delayed until after the August congressional recess. The legislation aims to establish a federal framework clarifying whether digital assets are regulated as securities under the SEC or commodities under the CFTC, a boundary the industry has cited as a persistent source of uncertainty. The probability of the legislation passing this year has declined to approximately 13%.

Senators pressed the CFTC to prohibit so-called "wildfire bets" on prediction markets, urging the regulator to ban contracts that wager on natural disasters as scrutiny of the sector intensifies. Prediction-market platforms have grown rapidly in volume and visibility through the 2024 and 2025 election cycles, drawing increasing attention from lawmakers.

Tether expanded its tokenization business into Saudi Arabia, beginning with institutional real estate. The company plans to bring additional asset classes onchain as it deepens its presence in the Gulf region. Tokenization of real-world assets has become one of the fastest-growing segments in crypto, with major financial institutions including BlackRock and Franklin Templeton also launching tokenized funds on public blockchains.

JPMorgan reported that inflows into Hyperliquid ETFs have stalled, cooling after the products led the market in May and June. Competition from newer offerings intensified through July and August.

Cathie Wood's Ark Invest made SpaceX and Circle top holdings following its latest buying activity. SpaceX is now ARKK's fifth-largest position at nearly $282 million, representing 4.73% of the portfolio.

According to industry data, nearly 23% of major Bitcoin miners are operating at a daily loss. As of August 6, approximately 22.7% of 22 tracked mining machine models were generating negative net returns. Mining profitability has been under pressure following the April 2024 halving, which cut block subsidies by half, compounded by rising network difficulty as more computing power secures the network.

Corporate Treasuries and ETFs

Bitcoin ETFs recorded $138 million in net inflows on Thursday, bringing the weekly total above $750 million. Ethereum ETFs saw $92 million in inflows.

Meme Coin Tracker

Meme coin leaders were mixed: DOGE +1%, SHIB -2%, PEPE +1%, PENGU -2%, TRUMP +2%, and BONK -10%.

Robinhood Chain experienced volatility after Cashcat was listed on Robinhood US. Cashcat fell 18% to a $104 million market capitalization. New project Mancer's token surged 11x to $8 million. Other notable movers included Pons (+35%) and Index (+45%).

Solana meme coin leaders included Cate (+90%), Stonk (+45%), and butthole (+150%). ANSEM rose 5% to a $180 million valuation.

Token, Airdrop, and Protocol Tracker

Hyperliquid's active perpetual futures traders reached a record high of approximately 263,467, according to Hypertracker data.

Robinhood Chain saw its active addresses hit a new all-time high of 375,000. Launchpad volume rebounded to $212 million, and DEX volume rose to $361 million.

The estate of the late Ondo Finance founder Nathan Allman filed a lawsuit seeking control of the company, aiming to remove CEO Ian De Bode over what the estate alleges was an unapproved appointment.

NFT Market Update

NFT leaders were mixed: CryptoPunks rose 2% to 32.2 ETH, BAYC held at 8 ETH, and Pudgy remained at 3.85 ETH. Stonkbrokers declined 1% to 7.57 ETH.

New NFT collection Mancers debuted at 0.834 ETH, nearly tripling from its initial mint price of 0.33 ETH, on 450 ETH in trading volume.

Top movers included Momo (+450%) and God Pull (+70%).

An additional XCOPY 1/1 artwork sold for over $500,000, marking the third NFT to reach that price level in two days.