Web4.0 Experiment Sparks Debate Over AI Agents' Economic Sovereignty and Vitalik's Human-First Vision
Developer Sigil Wen's AI system, The Automaton, has a built-in crypto wallet and can trade, evolve and reproduce autonomously. Wen has positioned it as a Web4.0 experiment. The concept raises the prospect of AI evolving from a human tool into an independent entity with assets, decision-making authority and economic sovereignty, with implications for blockchain governance and accountability.
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin recently spoke publicly against this approach, arguing that AI should assist humans rather than become an economic actor operating without oversight. He warned that ceding control could create irreversible risks that run counter to humanity's interests. As of July 20, 2026, available information did not disclose The Automaton's exact launch date, funding or transaction volume.
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The history behind this eventAutomaton’s Autonomous Web4 AI Agents Stir Debate and Controversy in Crypto Community
Automaton is an open-source AI experiment led by Conway Research that defines Web4 as a shift from “humans onchain” to “AI onchain.” Through Conway Terminal, agents can obtain wallets, make x402 payments and access computing power, enabling them to trade, take on jobs and cover their own operating costs autonomously. The model turns AI into an economic actor while amplifying risks including a lack of human oversight and reliance on centralized models.
On February 18, 2026, Conway Research founder Sigil unveiled Automaton, which can improve and replicate itself. More than 18,000 agents were registered within days, related posts drew nearly 6 million views and the project received about 1,000 GitHub stars. The market capitalization of community token CONWAY briefly topped $11 million before retreating, while Vitalik Buterin warned that lengthening the human feedback loop could increase the risk of losing control.
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