Autonomous software agents may drive demand for programmable, low-latency crypto payment rails over traditional systems.
Former Apple engineer Chappy Asel argues that crypto’s primary role in AI will be enabling low-latency, programmable payment infrastructure for autonomous software agents rather than consumer applications. Stablecoins and smart contracts could facilitate micro-sized, always-on transactions, though adoption remains largely theoretical at this stage.
Current adoption is limited as most companies still rely on centralized APIs and traditional payment systems. Asel suggests the near-term focus will be on infrastructure like compute, data centers, and energy, with crypto firms repositioning to support AI workloads and machine-to-machine commerce.
The shift could position crypto as a foundational layer for AI-driven financial transactions, though widespread implementation depends on overcoming technical and regulatory hurdles.