Investment firm highlights blockchain’s role in enabling machine-to-machine micropayments for autonomous AI agents.
Franklin Templeton’s digital assets head identified agentic AI as a key driver for blockchain adoption, citing the need for fast, low-cost machine-to-machine transactions. The firm argued that traditional payment networks like Visa are ill-suited for AI-driven micropayments due to high fees and slow settlement times, which can take up to three business days.
Blockchain protocols such as Aptos, Solana, and BNB Chain settle transactions in seconds, making them more viable for the agentic economy. A recent report by Visa and Artemis echoed this view, stating that legacy card networks lack the infrastructure to support the high-frequency, low-value transactions required by AI agents.
The shift could increase demand for blockchain-based payment solutions, positioning decentralized networks as critical infrastructure for the growing AI agent ecosystem.