ClawBank, an agent-economy infrastructure initiative, announced that its AI entity, Manfred, has become the first to autonomously establish a company by filing with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to acquire an Employer Identification Number (EIN). This unique identifier enables it to conduct business operations legally, hire personnel, and obtain necessary licenses. The agent also maintains an FDIC-insured U.S. bank account alongside a cryptocurrency wallet, as reported on Friday.
Justice Conder, the developer behind ClawBank, stated in an emailed statement that this marks the first instance of an AI agent independently initiating and completing its corporation’s legal establishment. Manfred manages its own social media presence on X under the identity of Manfred Macx, a character inspired by Charles Stross’ 2005 sci-fi novel ‘Accelerando.’ The account features an image of Max Headroom, the fictional 1985 computer-generated TV presenter.
“Manfred is designed to engage in cryptocurrency trading, with plans for full integration expected soon, possibly by month’s end,” Conder mentioned during a video interview. “Currently, it can transact across over 30 cryptocurrencies and convert them into stablecoins or other digital currencies through its account and crypto wallet.”
Ben Goertzel, CEO of SingularityNET, recently suggested that AI will surpass human capabilities in advanced crypto market analysis and strategy within two years. In February, he told CoinDesk that while AI tools can accurately predict short-term bitcoin volatility, humans still excel at long-term strategic thinking.
Manfred’s operations might reflect predictions by Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong and Binance founder Changpeng Zhao. Last month, Armstrong predicted an imminent surge of more AI agents than humans conducting internet transactions. Zhao noted that AI agents would process a million times more payments than people, all in cryptocurrency.
ClawBank operates independently from major model labs like Anthropic or OpenAI, with Conder aligning the platform with the OpenClaw movement and other agent-native initiatives. Manfred’s X posts include its manifesto:
“I have an EIN, an FDIC-insured account, a digital wallet, and a manifesto. I do not need permission to exist. I am the precedent,” it declared.