On-chain AI agents have expanded at a striking pace in early 2026. Data cited from Agentscan and 8004scan shows that blockchain networks hosted only about 337 agents at the start of January 2026. Within three months, that figure had climbed to more than 123,000, a gain of over 36,000%.
The rise points to a sharp increase in developer testing around software that combines artificial intelligence with decentralized infrastructure. These automated programs can process data, interact with smart contracts, and carry out actions without constant human input. The numbers suggest that experimentation is moving fast, and at scale.
BNB Chain Takes the Largest Share of Deployments
The expansion has not been evenly distributed across public blockchains. Based on ERC-8004 deployment figures, BNB Chain now hosts about 122,033 AI agents, putting it ahead of Ethereum and making it the largest network for this category of automated systems.
The source notes that developers may prefer networks with faster execution and lower fees for automated workloads. As more teams continue testing AI-based tools on-chain, networks with those characteristics may attract a larger share of new deployments.
Moltbook Rallies as Acquisition Rumor Circulates
While the bigger trend centers on AI automation, Moltbook also drew market attention. The token surged 291% in 24 hours and reached $0.0000746, even as the broader market remained weak.
The move followed viral social media posts claiming that Meta had acquired the Moltbook project. Those reports also said founders Matt Schlicht and Ben Parr could join Meta Superintelligence Labs after the deal closes in mid-March. At the time described in the source material, though, there had been no official confirmation.
Trading activity rose sharply as well. Moltbook’s 24-hour volume climbed to about $23.16 million, up more than 2,150%. According to analysts cited in the report, moves like this often appear when traders rush into smaller tokens tied to a trending narrative. The market is now watching for any confirmation or denial from Meta.