Arthur Hayes, the Chief Investment Officer of Maelstrom Fund and co-founder of BitMEX, emphasized the natural alignment between artificial intelligence (AI) agents and cryptocurrency assets. In an interview with Bankless, Hayes mentioned that AI memecoins have entered the cryptocurrency industry, representing a “completely new life force.”
AI and Cryptocurrency
Hayes pointed out that AI agents can effectively fill out anti-money laundering (AML) and know your customer (KYC) forms, as these processes can be fully digitized. He also highlighted the ability of AI to create fake images.
AI agents can be thought of as intelligent virtual entities that make decisions within a wide range of freedoms for specific purposes. Imagine a computer operated by a human who makes decisions without exceeding predefined boundaries. AI agents execute this process without human oversight, showcasing the most effective and functional uses of AI. They can manage meme coin projects and may lead to advanced examples where AI governs entirely, compelling human community votes to make certain decisions.
Hayes noted that cryptocurrencies are the most suitable option for AI agents to conduct low-cost, seamless trades. He expressed uncertainty about whether they would create their own cryptocurrencies but acknowledged the excitement surrounding this area.
Bitcoin and Artificial Intelligence
Hayes stated that AI agents are likely to utilize Bitcoin (BTC) 
$90,789. He characterized Bitcoin as being “more intrinsically” linked to AI, asserting that AI can “understand” Bitcoin.
“If I were an AI [agent], why would I use a fiat currency that disappears whenever people want to devalue it? All fiat currencies have this historical pattern for 10,000 years.” – Hayes.
Hayes argued that AI, having learned from human history and behavior, would not prefer currencies like the dollar, euro, or yen. Instead, it might favor Bitcoin, which theoretically could exist for 100 years.
He noted that the integration of AI and cryptocurrencies could lead to significant changes in the financial world, emphasizing the need to closely monitor developments in this field.
The Future of Technology
Hayes remarked that technology is advancing rapidly, with AI playing a central role in this progress. He suggested that cryptocurrencies will gain even more importance alongside these technological advancements.
The combination of AI agents and cryptocurrency assets could provide higher efficiency and security in financial transactions. Innovations in this area may lay the foundations for the future digital economy.
The swift evolution of financial technologies requires industry players to be open to innovation. AI and cryptocurrencies possess the potential to shape the financial infrastructure of tomorrow.
