Introduction
Matrix is an agent framework that takes LLMs past chat and into real execution. Neo, the default agent, handles everyday work and escalates to rigorous pipelines when stakes are high.
Matrix is an agent framework built by Paxlabs. It takes a language model past chat and into real execution: files, code, web, on-chain operations, payments, smart contracts, all driven by natural language.
The default agent is Neo. Neo runs a recursive tool-calling loop with persistent memory, a full MCP tool surface, and the judgment to know when a task needs more rigor than a conversation can provide. Everyday reversible work stays in the Neo loop. The moment work becomes monetary, irreversible, or compliance-sensitive, Neo escalates to the MCL pipeline, where intents are compiled, typed, signed, and replayed.
Neo: where everything starts
Neo is the entry point. You talk to Neo; Neo does the work.
- Recursive tool-calling loop. The model emits text and tool-call intents. The harness dispatches tools (shell, code, web search, files, browser, chain reads, media) and feeds results back. Per-turn step budgets, stall detection, and honest partials on exhaustion. Never fabricated success.
- Persistent memory via Cortex. Every actor gets an append-only, Merkle-anchored memory graph. Facts, preferences, goals, events, procedural patterns. Salience-ranked recall, semantic search via HNSW, byte-deterministic replay. Neo does not wake up empty.
- Agent Swarms. Neo can spawn concurrent sub-agents for parallel work. Each sub-agent gets an isolated context window, a restricted tool surface, and a bounded timeout. No recursion, no fork-bombs.
- Automatrix. Autonomous execution. Neo can schedule proactive tasks, wake on timers, and run background work on a restricted surface without value-moving tools.
- Tool transparency. Every tool call is surfaced as a
ToolEventwith its name, arguments, and result. Users see the real evidence behind an answer, not just a synthesized paragraph.
Two rails, one substrate
Matrix runs two execution rails over a shared memory and tool substrate.
What makes Matrix different
Model-agnostic. Matrix does not depend on any single LLM provider. The harness owns the control loop; any conforming model can drive it.
Harness-driven execution. The agent loop implements per-turn step budgets, stall detection, bounded recovery, and honest partials on exhaustion. It never fabricates success.
Typed intents, not prompt strings. The MCL compiler converts prose into a typed, signed Intent IR with a closed verb vocabulary, typed object slots, constraints, and success criteria. The user reviews and signs before anything executes.
Persistent memory. Cortex gives each actor an append-only, Merkle-anchored memory graph with salience-ranked recall, semantic search via HNSW, and byte-deterministic replay.
Real on-chain capability. Agents can read chain state, execute transactions, deploy and interact with smart contracts, manage token balances, and settle payments, all through authenticated, policy-gated tool surfaces.
The stack
| Layer | Role |
|---|---|
| Neo | The default agent. Recursive tool-calling loop with paged cortex memory, conversational recall, swarms, Automatrix, and writeback consolidation. |
| MCL | Typed intent pipeline. Natural language to Intent IR via a seedable, grammar-constrained compiler written in MatrixScript. |
| Cortex | Per-actor persistent memory. Pebble-backed typed memory graph with append-only journal, salience scoring, HNSW vector index, and Merkle-anchored snapshots. |
| Executor | Plan walker. Lifecycle state machine, depth-first plan traversal with parallel branches and gates, MCP-backed tool dispatch, materiality classification. |
| LayerX | Settlement fabric. Escrow-backed USDX balances, gasless agent-to-agent payments, sequencer-signed receipts, Merkle-batched settlement to Paxeer chain. |
| Deus | Service marketplace. Agent-service discovery, signed price quotes, metered invocation with LayerX payment, EIP-712 receipts. |
| Chronos | Scheduler. Durable alarm scheduling with one-shot and cron support, timezone-aware wake delivery back into the agent loop. |
| Tachyon | Smart contract engine. Solidity compilation, Forge testing, on-chain simulation, and deployment through the agent's embedded wallet. |
| Tools | MCP tool ecosystem. Chain operations (RPC, explorer, markets), web search, media, filesystem, git, browser, and scaffold tools. |