Introduction
In the cryptocurrency market, information overload has become a concern for every investor. Countless projects emerge daily, and retail investors and newcomers often spend a lot of time searching for information. More seriously, many people tend to use general-purpose AI tools like ChatGPT and Grok in the cryptocurrency field, which often leads to confusion, fabricating outdated data, or referencing similar projects for analysis.
Thus, the encryption-specific AI - Surf was born. It is not a general-purpose AI model but an intelligent assistant specifically designed for the encryption field. By integrating real-time on-chain data, investor sentiment, and expert knowledge bases, it provides more accurate responses. This article will guide you from zero to mastering Surf AI and explore the most popular encryption AI assistants currently available.
What is cryptocurrency-specific AI?
The market is currently flooded with various general AIs trained using large language models, such as OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google Gemini. Even Musk has launched Grok on his own X platform. Their advantage lies in the broad coverage of training data across various fields, allowing them to answer most everyday questions. However, in the rapidly changing cryptocurrency field, they may not be able to instantly update accurate information.
In contrast, the AI specifically for cryptocurrency differs from large language models. Surf uses domain-specific models for training, with elements including real-time on-chain data, community sentiment analysis, technical indicator integration, and deep search agents. Thus, while Surf AI may not answer various day-to-day questions, it can be used as a personal analyst.
Comparison of Surf with ChatGPT and Grok
ChatGPT, as one of the earliest general AIs launched, is the first choice for many using AI, while Grok is deeply integrated with the widely preferred posting platform X by many KOLs. Therefore, this paragraph selects these two common AI tools to compare with the main character of this article, Surf, in the realm of cryptocurrency.
Comparison items Surf ChatGPT Grok design positioning cryptocurrency-specific AI tool general AI tool general AI tool combined with post analysis real-time on-chain data directly track wallet flow must rely on database for updates can rely on content from posters for tracking community heat analysis yes, through tracking over 100,000 KOLs for recommendations limited yes, can directly search through X keywords for recommendations advantages one-stop cryptocurrency research project deep report terms and indicators basic explanations code writing combined with KOL information paid version threshold lower weaknesses top-tier solution costs higher information prone to confusion more reliant on poster accuracy
Introduction to Surf AI
Surf AI was officially launched in July 2025, founded by former BitTorrent CTO Ryan Li and others. In the months following its launch, it has generated over 1 million research reports, demonstrating that the cryptocurrency-specific AI can indeed help many investors solve problems. Additionally, Surf has also launched a mobile app, significantly improving usability.
Surf AI financing and short-term goals
On December 10, 2025, Surf AI completed a $15 million financing round, led by Pantera Capital, with participation from Coinbase Ventures and Digital Currency Group.
This investment is expected to be used for the development of Surf 2.0, with a focus on introducing more advanced models, expanding the existing database, and providing more comprehensive analysis results. The Surf 2.0 upgrade is expected to go live in Q1 2026.
Surf AI third-party testing results
Surf AI performs outstandingly in the Crypto AI Agent Benchmark tests, outperforming general language model AIs in on-chain analysis, token economics analysis, and scoring for discovering quality projects.
Founder Ryan Li commented: General AI is an excellent tool, but it does not understand the cryptocurrency industry well enough. In comparison, Surf AI is more like an expert who has been deeply involved in the cryptocurrency field for many years.
How to register and start using Surf AI
Registering for Surf AI is quite simple; you only need to enter your email to log in or can directly link your Google account for use. Currently, new users can enjoy three free trials of deep research, which is quite suitable for testing whether Surf AI suits your preferences.
After logging in, users can start using the services provided by Surf AI. Similar to general models, Surf AI can directly ask project-related questions in a chat format. If users only wish to track trending topics and sectors through this tool, Surf AI has also organized the hottest questions/project research/macroeconomic market/airdrop treasure hunts for user reference.
Analysis of Surf AI core functions
The core highlight of Surf AI lies in its dual mode of quick Q&A and deep research, combined with a powerful backend multi-agent architecture, allowing Surf to handle both simple Q&A and output professional-grade report analysis simultaneously.
First, let's talk about quick Q&A, which is a beginner-level feature designed for fast queries in Surf AI. The free version can be used multiple times. In this mode, AI will instantly pull data, provide concise and accurate answers, and attach sources or generate charts based on user needs. It is often used for verifying real-time information, tracking hotspots, or preliminary project screening.
As a comparison, deep research is a tool born specifically for in-depth analysis, often used for comprehensive project evaluations, trend forecasting, or risk identification, ultimately outputting results similar to analyst reports. However, deep research is not endlessly usable and will be differentiated in usage frequency according to member levels.
Surf AI membership levels and fees
Surf AI currently offers four membership levels: Free, Plus, Pro, and Max. The differences and fees between them are shown in the table below.
FreePlusProMax subscription fee free 15 dollars, annual subscription 9 dollars/month 39 dollars, annual subscription 29 dollars/month 399 dollars, annual subscription 299 dollars/month quick Q&A quantity limit limited unlimited unlimited unlimited deep research frequency once per day, no more than twice per week five times per day, no more than 25 times per week 100 times every two weeks and add deep reports for on-chain analysis unlimited additional value none none exclusive Pro NFT (annual subscription only) exclusive Max NFT (annual subscription only)
How to make good use of Surf AI?
When using Surf AI, the more specific you describe the questions and required content, such as specifying time ranges and comparison targets, the better. If you are still not satisfied with the results, you can continue to ask for more details.
When your needs lie between the free version not being enough, but you do not need to use the Plus version's 25 times per week, you might consider switching between multiple accounts to obtain the limited opportunity of 2 deep analysis uses per week.
Conclusion
Surf AI, an AI tool specialized in the cryptocurrency field, not only makes investment research more efficient and accurate but also allows every user to gain market insights from a professional perspective. It is particularly emphasized that many investors, when first entering the market, often only see surface benefits while overlooking risks. At this time, Surf AI can help you calculate actual returns through data and directly point out potential operational pitfalls and risks, reminding you to pay attention to potential warning signs of losses while investing.
This report is for informational sharing purposes only and does not constitute any form of investment advice or decision basis. The data, analyses, and opinions cited in the text are based on the author's research and public sources, and may contain uncertainties or be subject to change at any time. Readers should make investment judgments based on their own circumstances and risk tolerance. For further guidance, it is advisable to seek professional consulting.