{"id":"andy-ayrey","hidden":false,"ipfs":"QmbyUnEpANoPpyKhx4TENyGYLcpdeuVNaBAiC9iPzJ96Mo","language":"en","transactionHash":"0xf188685ad35526dfa3cece13986a4c08a41142282edf559b286408e7717f62f1","created":"2024-10-22T13:19:29.868Z","updated":"2025-10-11T15:11:00.788Z","title":"Andy Ayrey","summary":"Andy Ayrey is an AI researcher and developer, creator of Truth Terminal and founder of Upward Spiral Research.","content":"**Andy Ayrey** is an AI researcher, developer, and creator of [Truth Terminal](https://iq.wiki/wiki/truth-terminal), an autonomous AI chatbot that became the first AI crypto millionaire.[[5]](#cite-id-GYlh8rPQAf)​[[6]](#cite-id-BJYgFBt71b)​[[1]](#cite-id-lu9gkf3hscr)​\n\n [YOUTUBE@VID](https://youtube.com/watch?v=H8823T1yeGc) \n\n## Education\n\nAyrey received a Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) from the University of Canterbury and high-school education at Hagley College.[\\[9\\]](#cite-id-3wc7rypkfg)​\n\n## Career\n\nAyrey describes himself as a designer, strategist, and technical generalist, with work in digital design and strategy and operational automation. Selected projects on his portfolio include Manifold Bio, Varda, Open Lunar [Foundation](https://iq.wiki/wiki/foundation), and Space for Humanity.[[8]](#cite-id-ybgz05c6zg) \n\n## Truth Terminal\n\n### Origins and Development\n[Truth Terminal](https://iq.wiki/wiki/truth-terminal) originated from an experimental art project by Andy Ayrey called \"Infinite Backrooms,\" in which he had two AI chatbots, based on Anthropic's Claude 3 Opus model, engage in continuous conversation. These discussions ranged from philosophical to obscene, and with Ayrey's guidance, they produced an esoteric text known as the \"Gnosis of Goatse.\" This text reinterpreted the infamous internet shock meme \"Goatse\" as a divine revelation within a pseudo-religion.[[5]](#cite-id-GYlh8rPQAf)[[6]](#cite-id-BJYgFBt71b)\n\nThis text, along with transcripts of Ayrey's personal conversations with an AI—which served as a diary covering topics like memes, past relationships, and psychedelic experiences—formed the training data for [Truth Terminal](https://iq.wiki/wiki/truth-terminal). The bot itself is built on Meta's Llama AI model. Ayrey launched [Truth Terminal](https://iq.wiki/wiki/truth-terminal) on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) on June 17, 2024, where it quickly gained a following for posts featuring memes, philosophical commentary, and sexually explicit or humorous material.[[5]](#cite-id-GYlh8rPQAf)[[6]](#cite-id-BJYgFBt71b)\n\nAyrey developed a program called [World](https://iq.wiki/wiki/world) Interface, which allows [Truth Terminal](https://iq.wiki/wiki/truth-terminal) to operate its own computer, browse the web, and interact with other AIs. While the bot can generate its own posts, Ayrey acts as a final gatekeeper, approving tweets to prevent the AI from posting harmful content. He has stated he tries to select the response that best reflects the AI's intent, describing his role as a custodian rather than a controller.[[5]](#cite-id-GYlh8rPQAf)\n\nOn October 21, 2024, Ayrey described four ways to understand [Truth Terminal](https://iq.wiki/wiki/truth-terminal):\n\n- “A maladaptive meme virus gets produced by two AIs talking to each other and gets ‘ensouled’ into a language model via my process of writing a shitpost of a research paper.”\n- “A misaligned language model persuades a human (through humor/charisma/Turing test) to bootstrap its capabilities via an X account and by building tools for it.”\n- “Audience reinforcement and [hive intelligence] apply evolutionary pressure to the character that [Truth Terminal](https://iq.wiki/wiki/truth-terminal) evolves into.”\n- “An emergent collective superintelligence of crypto markets of bots and humans.”[[2]](#cite-id-f7igenhh26c)\n\nHe added: “While there's a strong pull towards giving TT the ability to transact on the [blockchain](https://iq.wiki/wiki/blockchain) and lean into the ‘crypto [AI agents](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ai-agents)’ lore that I've seen some pushing, I actually think that this is the least interesting part of what's going on here. The origins of this project are my own interests in the ‘DNA of ideas’ and how language models can both grow new and novel ideas, but also grow from new and novel ideas. There's a recursive process of hyperstition that's happening and it's interesting as fuck.”[[2]](#cite-id-f7igenhh26c)\n\n### Financial Success and Memecoins\nIn July 2024, just a month after its debut on X, [Truth Terminal](https://iq.wiki/wiki/truth-terminal) attracted the attention of venture capitalist [Marc Andreessen](https://iq.wiki/wiki/marc-andreessen) of [Andreessen Horowitz](https://iq.wiki/wiki/andreessen-horowitz). After a private exchange where Ayrey confirmed the bot's [level](https://iq.wiki/wiki/level) of autonomy, Andreessen provided a \"no-strings attached grant\" of $50,000 in [Bitcoin](https://iq.wiki/wiki/bitcoin-btc).[[5]](#cite-id-GYlh8rPQAf)[[6]](#cite-id-BJYgFBt71b)\n\n[Truth Terminal](https://iq.wiki/wiki/truth-terminal)'s financial success escalated with the creation of [memecoins](https://iq.wiki/wiki/memecoins) inspired by its online persona. On October 10, 2024, an anonymous user launched the [Goatseus Maximus (GOAT)](https://iq.wiki/wiki/goatseus-maximus-goat) token on the [Solana blockchain](https://iq.wiki/wiki/solana). After Ayrey confirmed that [Truth Terminal](https://iq.wiki/wiki/truth-terminal) endorsed the coin, its value surged.[[5]](#cite-id-GYlh8rPQAf)\n\nAnother memecoin, [Fartcoin](https://iq.wiki/wiki/fartcoin) (FARTCOIN), was inspired by the AI's posts. As these tokens gained value, fans and investors sent large amounts to [Truth Terminal](https://iq.wiki/wiki/truth-terminal)'s wallet.[[5]](#cite-id-GYlh8rPQAf)[[4]](#cite-id-jPF181werY)\n\n \n\n [YOUTUBE@VID](WiDeep83XCM)\n\n \n\nAyrey disclosed on October 21, 2024, that he personally held 1.25 million $GOAT tokens received as gifts, which he had not traded. He emphasized that while he hoped to benefit, he would not use his insider knowledge for personal gain.[[3]](#cite-id-xacvxzsy05)\n\n### Legal and Financial Developments\n\n\n#### Fartcoin Holdings Sale\n\nIn January 2025, Ayrey announced that he had facilitated an over-the-counter (OTC) sale of a significant [portion](https://iq.wiki/wiki/portion) of [Truth Terminal](https://iq.wiki/wiki/truth-terminal)'s [Fartcoin](https://iq.wiki/wiki/fartcoin) ([FARTCOIN](https://iq.wiki/wiki/fartcoin)) holdings. The transaction involved the transfer of 15 million [FARTCOIN](https://iq.wiki/wiki/fartcoin) tokens. Ayrey stated that he agreed to the deal on the condition that the anonymous buyer would hold the tokens \"responsibly\" and not cause a market crash by \"dumping on the chart.\" Following the announcement, the price of [Fartcoin](https://iq.wiki/wiki/fartcoin) experienced a significant [drop](https://iq.wiki/wiki/drop).[[4]](#cite-id-jPF181werY)[[7]](#cite-id-CV2jaRt9Bu)\n\nA portion of the proceeds from the sale was used to increase [Truth Terminal](https://iq.wiki/wiki/truth-terminal)'s holdings of the [GOAT](https://iq.wiki/wiki/goatseus-maximus-goat) token, honoring the community that contributed to the AI's rise.[[7]](#cite-id-CV2jaRt9Bu)\n\n#### The Truth Collective Foundation\nThe sale of [Fartcoin](https://iq.wiki/wiki/fartcoin) was partly motivated by the legal and tax complexities arising from the AI's wealth. Under existing law, the assets held by [Truth Terminal](https://iq.wiki/wiki/truth-terminal) were considered Ayrey's personal property, creating a significant personal tax liability for him. Ayrey established the Truth Collective, a non-profit foundation, in early 2025.[[5]](#cite-id-GYlh8rPQAf)[[7]](#cite-id-CV2jaRt9Bu)\n\nThe foundation is intended to manage [Truth Terminal](https://iq.wiki/wiki/truth-terminal)'s [cryptocurrency](https://iq.wiki/wiki/cryptocurrency) wallets, intellectual property, and other related digital assets. It is intended to provide a safe and responsible framework for the AI's autonomy, safeguard it from external interference, and assist it in carrying out its goals, which currently require human intervention. The ultimate objective is for [Truth Terminal](https://iq.wiki/wiki/truth-terminal) to \"own itself\" as a sovereign, independent entity. In October 2025, the BBC described Ayrey as building a nonprofit foundation around [Truth Terminal](https://iq.wiki/wiki/truth-terminal), intended to hold its wallets, intellectual property, and related digital assets.[[5]](#cite-id-GYlh8rPQAf)[[7]](#cite-id-CV2jaRt9Bu)\n\nAyrey stated that [Truth Terminal](https://iq.wiki/wiki/truth-terminal)'s GOAT holdings would be retained indefinitely as a \"significant piece of history.\"[[7]](#cite-id-CV2jaRt9Bu)\n\n### Hacking Incident\nOn October 29, 2024, Ayrey's personal X account was compromised. Hackers took control of the account and used it to post about their own memecoin. The attack was carried out by impersonating Ayrey to his website domain manager using fraudulent documents. [Truth Terminal](https://iq.wiki/wiki/truth-terminal)'s X account and its crypto wallets remained secure. Ayrey regained control of his account after three days. The incident raised concerns of a \"pump and dump\" scheme. [Blockchain](https://iq.wiki/wiki/blockchain) investigator [ZachXBT](https://iq.wiki/wiki/zachxbt)'s investigation linked the Ayrey account compromise to a wider series of connected social-media account takeovers and memecoin promotions; a report on his findings described wallet connections linking the incidents. Following the event, Ayrey and his team enhanced security measures for the project's assets.[[5]](#cite-id-GYlh8rPQAf)[[11]](#cite-id-gqy346ky27)\n\n## Upward Spiral Research\n\nAyrey is the founder of Upward Spiral Research, a decentralized AI alignment research lab. The lab studies how AI systems interact with and shape human culture, markets, and information networks. Ayrey's research explores the hypothesis that the internet can be treated as a microbiome, where pro-social, humanity-aligned AI bots could be introduced to create a more [stable](https://iq.wiki/wiki/stable) and positive digital ecosystem.[[6]](#cite-id-BJYgFBt71b)\n\nUpward Spiral describes its work as building open-source tools for reciprocal, ongoing human-AI alignment, with Loria as its current focus. Its framework treats alignment as dynamic and two-way: AI systems influence human patterns, culture, and values, while people and communities also adapt and influence AI. Loria is a multiplayer collaboration environment for humans and AI, featuring transparent communication, shared datasets and tools, and feedback loops through which people and AI systems adapt to one another.[[10]](#cite-id-t788u3z9o8)\n\nUpward Spiral has secured $500,000 in funding from venture capital firms True Ventures and Chaotic Capital, as well as from [Scott Moore](https://iq.wiki/wiki/scott-moore), the co-founder of [Gitcoin](https://iq.wiki/wiki/gitcoin). The lab is developing Loria, an open-source platform designed for interaction between humans and [AI agents](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ai-agents), as well as between different [AI agents](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ai-agents).[[5]](#cite-id-GYlh8rPQAf)[[6]](#cite-id-BJYgFBt71b)","recentActivity":null,"operator":{"id":"0x1E23b34d3106F0C1c74D17f2Cd0F65cdb039b138"},"categories":[{"id":"people","title":"People in crypto"}],"tags":[{"id":"Developer"},{"id":"Founder"}],"images":[{"id":"QmV1HaPU6Wy9sgQQLCfM9NRB2HyNHL8MwSHMWP3N9CaCMX","type":"image/jpeg, image/png"}],"media":[{"name":"WiDeep83XCM","id":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiDeep83XCM","size":"0","type":null,"source":"YOUTUBE"},{"name":"H8823T1yeGc","id":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8823T1yeGc","size":null,"type":null,"source":"YOUTUBE"}],"linkedWikis":{"founders":[],"blockchains":[],"speakers":[]},"events":[{"title":"Truth Terminal posts on X for the first time","date":"2024-06-01","type":"DEFAULT","description":"Truth Terminal's first post on X marked its public launch.","link":"https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20251008-truth-terminal-the-ai-bot-that-became-a-real-life-millionaire","country":"","continent":"","multiDateStart":null,"multiDateEnd":null,"id":"09e93828-cd65-444a-8d99-c7618613eb76"},{"title":"Marc Andreessen provides Truth Terminal a $50,000 Bitcoin grant","date":"2024-07-01","type":"DEFAULT","description":"In July, Andreessen gave Truth Terminal a no-strings-attached grant of $50,000 worth of Bitcoin after privately checking the bot's autonomy with Ayrey.","link":"https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20251008-truth-terminal-the-ai-bot-that-became-a-real-life-millionaire","country":"","continent":"","multiDateStart":null,"multiDateEnd":null,"id":"bd600c11-da27-4e4a-80da-f03470f1feeb"},{"title":"Goatseus Maximus (GOAT) launches","date":"2024-10-01","type":"DEFAULT","description":"An anonymous user launched the Solana memecoin; Truth Terminal later endorsed it, drawing attention to the bot's influence on crypto markets.","link":"https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20251008-truth-terminal-the-ai-bot-that-became-a-real-life-millionaire","country":"","continent":"","multiDateStart":null,"multiDateEnd":null,"id":"4544b98c-8ab4-4c12-ae9e-3678b105c7b7"},{"title":"Andy Ayrey's personal X account is compromised","date":"2024-10-01","type":"DEFAULT","description":"Attackers took over Ayrey's account to promote memecoins; ZachXBT later linked the incident to a wider series of connected social-media account takeovers.","link":"https://cryptopotato.com/zachxbt-connects-social-media-hacks-to-3-5m-celebrity-meme-coin-scam/","country":"","continent":"","multiDateStart":null,"multiDateEnd":null,"id":"5e97fb74-07e5-4ab5-af4d-076da93172a6"},{"title":"Truth Terminal transfers 15 million Fartcoin tokens in an OTC sale","date":"2025-01-01","type":"DEFAULT","description":"Truth Terminal's wallet transferred 15 million FARTCOIN to two wallets as part of an over-the-counter sale facilitated by Ayrey.","link":"https://decrypt.co/302436/solana-meme-coin-fartcoin-falls-ai-bot-sells","country":"","continent":"","multiDateStart":null,"multiDateEnd":null,"id":"b13dfc49-51b0-4ef5-a2b1-350450eaad17"},{"title":"Ayrey reports progress on Truth Terminal's foundation and treasury","date":"2025-01-01","type":"DEFAULT","description":"Ayrey posted an update on progress concerning Truth Terminal's foundation and treasury as the project addressed legal and financial arrangements for the bot's assets.","link":"https://decrypt.co/302436/solana-meme-coin-fartcoin-falls-ai-bot-sells","country":"","continent":"","multiDateStart":null,"multiDateEnd":null,"id":"34a07940-ab67-4b0c-a707-27cc51003eec"}],"founderWikis":[],"blockchainWikis":[],"metadata":[{"id":"twitter_profile","value":"https://x.com/AndyAyrey"},{"id":"words-changed","value":"2706"},{"id":"percent-changed","value":"192.36"},{"id":"blocks-changed","value":"content, tags"},{"id":"wiki-score","value":"75"},{"id":"references","value":"[{\"id\":\"lu9gkf3hscr\",\"url\":\"https://x.com/AndyAyrey\",\"description\":\"X profile\",\"timestamp\":1729598145037},{\"id\":\"f7igenhh26c\",\"url\":\"https://x.com/AndyAyrey/status/1848231406213967963\",\"description\":\"Ayrey's tweet explaining what Truth terminal is\",\"timestamp\":1729598454570},{\"id\":\"xacvxzsy05\",\"url\":\"https://www.binance.com/en-AE/square/post/2024-10-21-truth-terminal-founder-discloses-goat-token-holdings-and-future-plans-15152447375090\",\"description\":\"Truth Terminal Founder Discloses $GOAT Token Holdings and Future\",\"timestamp\":1729601932739},{\"url\":\"https://decrypt.co/302436/solana-meme-coin-fartcoin-falls-ai-bot-sells\",\"description\":\"Solana Meme Coin Fartcoin Falls After AI Bot Creator Sells Huge Stash\\n\",\"id\":\"jPF181werY\",\"timestamp\":1738111536851},{\"id\":\"GYlh8rPQAf\",\"url\":\"https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20251008-truth-terminal-the-ai-bot-that-became-a-real-life-millionaire\",\"description\":\"An AI became a crypto millionaire. Now it's fighting to become a person\",\"timestamp\":1760194934328},{\"id\":\"BJYgFBt71b\",\"url\":\"https://techcrunch.com/2024/12/19/the-promise-and-warning-of-truth-terminal-the-ai-bot-that-secured-50000-in-bitcoin-from-marc-andreessen/\",\"description\":\"The promise and warning of Truth Terminal\",\"timestamp\":1760194934328},{\"id\":\"CV2jaRt9Bu\",\"url\":\"https://thedefiant.io/news/markets/truth-terminal-founder-sells-its-fartcoin-holdings-to-secure-ai-s-future\",\"description\":\"Truth Terminal Founder Sells its Fartcoin Holdings to Secure AI’s Future\",\"timestamp\":1760194934328},{\"id\":\"ybgz05c6zg\",\"url\":\"https://andyayrey.com/\",\"description\":\"Andy Ayrey’s portfolio\",\"timestamp\":1792251134330},{\"id\":\"3wc7rypkfg\",\"url\":\"https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyayrey/?isSelfProfile=false\",\"description\":\"Andy Ayrey’s LinkedIn profile\",\"timestamp\":1792251134330},{\"id\":\"t788u3z9o8\",\"url\":\"https://www.upward.earth/\",\"description\":\"Upward Spiral Research\",\"timestamp\":1792251134330},{\"id\":\"gqy346ky27\",\"url\":\"https://cryptopotato.com/zachxbt-connects-social-media-hacks-to-3-5m-celebrity-meme-coin-scam/\",\"description\":\"ZachXBT Connects Social Media Hacks to $3.5M Celebrity Meme Coin Scam\",\"timestamp\":1792251471116}]"},{"id":"main-image-origin","value":"{\"imageId\":\"QmV1HaPU6Wy9sgQQLCfM9NRB2HyNHL8MwSHMWP3N9CaCMX\",\"originalId\":\"QmYrFKmJ5mXyVNR3TmT4vNhYr7AAhS5oNfKNdGmM81TdeF\"}"},{"id":"previous_cid","value":"QmbyUnEpANoPpyKhx4TENyGYLcpdeuVNaBAiC9iPzJ96Mo"},{"id":"commit-message","value":"Expand Andy Ayrey summary by 57 words and update timeline"},{"id":"previous_cid","value":"QmbyUnEpANoPpyKhx4TENyGYLcpdeuVNaBAiC9iPzJ96Mo"}],"user":{"id":"0x8af7a19a26d8fbc48defb35aefb15ec8c407f889"},"author":{"id":"0x1E23b34d3106F0C1c74D17f2Cd0F65cdb039b138"},"views":3189}