Crypto’s infrastructure era arrives, with AI agents poised to reshape demand
Crypto companies are trying to build a second growth engine by turning agents into the next wave of users.
The crypto industry has long grappled with attracting a broader user base beyond traders. Now, some of its largest companies believe they've found a solution in AI agents. By integrating these agents into crypto wallets, stablecoins, and payment networks, companies aim to build a new growth engine. For instance, Kraken is redesigning its app to incorporate AI agents that can monitor markets, identify investment opportunities, and execute trades in real-time.
Coinbase has introduced a tool allowing agents like ChatGPT or Claude to execute crypto trades using natural language instructions. In May, Circle announced a strategic partnership with its blockchain, Arc, designed to support AI agents in handling operational and contractual tasks currently performed by humans.
This shift represents a significant change for an industry that has previously focused on convincing consumers that crypto offers advantages over traditional currencies and payment systems. AI agents are seen as the natural users that crypto was built for. Unlike humans, agents are designed to operate online, making digital wallets, programmable money, and always-on payment networks essential components.
Lincoln Murr, AI product lead at Coinbase, stated that users can create isolated accounts within their Coinbase app to give to agents, which can perform various tasks such as trading, rebalancing portfolios, and accessing premium information.
Stablecoins, with their fixed values, are increasingly viewed as practical for payments within the crypto and AI landscape. Unlike volatile cryptocurrencies, stablecoins are ideal for real-time agent-to-agent transactions and can be seamlessly integrated into software. Joseph Chalom, CEO of Sharplink, highlighted that traditional banking systems are ill-suited for real-time agent-to-agent commerce, making stablecoins and smart contracts a more efficient solution.
Circle has capitalized on this opportunity by promoting its USDC stablecoin as programmable digital dollars for internet-native payments. The company believes that AI agents will drive transaction volume for USDC, not merely in crypto trading but in everyday software activities. Jeremy Allaire, Circle's CEO, noted that the expansion of Arc blockchain for agentic activity will bolster the adoption of USDC and expand transactional activity related to it, enabling banks to build tokenized deposits using USDC as a globally interoperable rail.
This development unfolds amidst a crypto bear market, with Bitcoin prices more than 40% below their October peak and investors diverting funds to other tech-focused opportunities. Despite the bearish trend, crypto exchanges are expanding their services beyond cryptocurrencies, including equities, commodities, payments, banking, and lending.
The introduction of agentic trading, which can enhance investment decisions, could signify a new level of maturity for the industry, moving away from its earlier chaotic days. As the crypto landscape evolves, the integration of AI agents promises to deepen its maturity and broaden its user base.
Written by urgent.news from CNBC World's reporting — not their text. Machine-written; read the original for the full account.
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