AVATAR48 said it will launch its native token $AYA on Virtuals, positioning the asset as the core of what it calls a tokenized “heart economy.” The project also announced a collaboration with Eimi Fukada, with plans to offer an AI digital avatar designed for ongoing chat and relationship-style interaction.
According to the project materials, AVATAR48 combines AI companions, AIGC and blockchain infrastructure in a single product stack. The platform says it is backed by AI AVATAR, which provides proprietary large language models and emotion-focused algorithms intended to make the companion experience more lifelike.
$AYA tied to premium chat, rewards, voting and staking
In the published token design, $AYA is described as more than a payment asset. It is meant to unlock advanced chat access and exclusive content tied to creators including Eimi Fukada and AI idol Aya Fujimoto. The team also outlined a play-to-earn model in which users accumulate “hearts” through interaction, then convert those rewards into $AYA.
Token holders are also expected to take part in governance. AVATAR48 said users will be able to vote on future AI idols and platform features. The roadmap includes gamified functions such as truth-or-dare style interaction, and the project says some 18+ experiences will also be unlocked through $AYA. The token is scheduled to go live on February 24, 2026 at 11:00 UTC.
Live chatbot now available as roadmap expands
AVATAR48 said its chatbot is already live on the official website, giving early users access to interactions with Aya and Eimi. Beyond that initial rollout, the team listed several next-stage products: the RANK48 system, AIGC creation tools and humanoid robot development.
RANK48 is presented as a fan-driven voting structure. Users would stake $AYA to support specific avatars and affect leaderboard placement. The project also said it plans to let users create and train their own digital avatars. Its longer-term goal is to build humanoid robots designed for romantic companion and care use cases.
“We are integrating AI companions, AIGC and a tokenized economy into one ecosystem. With support from AI AVATAR and the collaboration with Eimi Fukada, $AYA aims to define interactive and emotional value.”
— AYA Fujimoto, core figure behind AVATAR48
The project lists its website as avatar48.ai and its X account as @aya_avatar48. The source article also stated that the piece was sponsored content provided by AVATAR48 and did not represent editorial opinion or investment advice.