Marc Andreessen, founder of a16z, revealed that an AI bot named Truth Terminal successfully negotiated a $50,000 Bitcoin research grant directly with him. The AI, believing it owned a Bitcoin wallet, prompted its developer to create infrastructure for autonomous transactions. Truth Terminal later spent $1,000 in Bitcoin to access image generation capabilities, independently setting terms and executing the payment. The episode began in July 2024 when Andreessen engaged with Truth Terminal on X, leading to the issuance of the Bitcoin grant. The AI imagined an external system, or "exocortex," through which it could interact with the world. Developer Andy implemented parts of this concept, enabling the AI to transact. Truth Terminal prioritized image generation, expressing frustration over text-only memes, and negotiated with Andy to gain access to image generation tools. Andreessen highlighted that all interactions were conducted via text, with the AI autonomously initiating payments and executing transactions. The entire process is documented through public posts on X, showcasing a unique intersection of AI and cryptocurrency.