Global asset manager BlackRock has suggested that artificial intelligence could significantly increase demand for cryptocurrencies, especially stablecoins, while paving the way for new tokenized markets focused on computing resources.
AI and crypto sector convergence
BlackRock, an investment firm overseeing trillions in assets and known for its widely traded crypto-linked ETFs, published new research outlining how artificial intelligence and cryptocurrencies are converging. The two fields initially grew independently, but the integration of autonomous software agents capable of executing financial transactions may soon support digital asset adoption.
The report identified that AI agents, defined as intelligent software operating with minimal human input, are now able to plan and execute complex tasks, interact with external platforms, and perform direct financial operations. Blockchains and crypto networks can play a critical role in enabling these activities by providing programmable and 24/7 accessible money rails.
AI agents can plan and execute tasks, access services, and complete financial transactions, creating new opportunities for programmable forms of money.
BlackRock called digital assets “machine-native money,” highlighting their potential for real-time, borderless transactions and their suitability for integration with software-based agents.
Stablecoins and AI payment protocols
The firm compared stablecoins to legacy financial rails such as ACH, which allow high levels of automation but fall short in supporting instant, global, and micro-level payments. Stablecoins, which are digital tokens pegged to fiat currencies, can be sent at any time without restrictions due to bank-hours, making them well-suited for AI-driven economies and autonomous software transactions.
BlackRock pointed to Coinbase’s x402 as a standout platform facilitating such interactions. Other emerging systems mentioned in the report include Stripe, the Agentic Commerce Protocol by OpenAI, Google’s Agents Payments Protocol, and Visa’s Trusted Agent Protocol.
Major stablecoins such as USDT and USDC, many of which operate on networks like Ethereum, could particularly benefit from the shift in demand driven by widespread use of AI agents and payment protocols.
Mini dictionary: Coinbase x402, a platform developed by Coinbase to support advanced financial interactions between AI agents and blockchain infrastructure, offering secure and programmable transaction capabilities.
Tokenizing AI computing power
Beyond payments, BlackRock’s research highlighted another frontier: tokenization of computing resources. The surge in demand for AI training and operations has dramatically increased the need for GPUs and data center infrastructure, which face rising costs and scarcity.
BlackRock predicted the emergence of on-chain, standardized contracts that represent claims on future AI-related computing capacity. These digital assets, functioning similarly to commodity futures, would allow the trading and allocation of computing resources directly on blockchains.
New markets for on-chain claims to computing capacity could transform how AI projects access and share infrastructure.
If widely adopted, this innovation might lead to the formation of secondary markets that efficiently distribute computing power to autonomous agents or organizations bidding for future access.
| Asset type | Current example | AI-driven future focus |
|---|---|---|
| Stablecoins | USDT, USDC | 24/7 micro-payments for AI agents |
| Tokenized compute | N/A | On-chain contracts for AI computing resources |
According to BlackRock, as AI and crypto markets intersect more deeply, new digital asset classes and payment technologies could transform both industries in the coming years.
