[Nasdaq Researcher: Crypto Trading Platforms Will Be the First to Deploy AI Agents for Retail Users] Pranav Ramesh, Nasdaq's Head of Options Research and co-founder/CTO of Leadpoet, stated that Nasdaq has significantly expanded the application scope of AI agents over the past 18 months, covering areas such as market surveillance, compliance, and market microstructure analysis, while retaining human oversight in final decision-making processes. Ramesh predicts that crypto trading platforms will be the first to launch AI agent tools for retail users, including portfolio analysis, trading recommendations, and execution support. However, he noted that current systems have not yet achieved fully autonomous operation. He also pointed out that AI agents have begun replacing entry-level roles, as companies like Crypto.com, Messari, and Block have recently laid off employees citing advancements in AI automation, further confirming this trend. Leadpoet, the AI sales startup co-founded by Ramesh and Gavin Zaentz, disclosed in February 2026 that it achieved $1 million in annualized revenue during its first quarter of operations and received investments from DSV Fund and Astrid. The company utilizes the decentralized AI network Bittensor and has joined NVIDIA's Inception program. (CoinDesk)