BlackRock Predicts AI Agents Will Drive Digital Asset Demand
BlackRock argues that autonomous AI agents will require stablecoins and blockchain infrastructure to facilitate high-volume, machine-to-machine payments in a new machine-native economy.
Investment management firm BlackRock published a research paper titled “The Machine-Native Economy,” arguing that autonomous AI agents will create a new source of demand for cryptocurrencies. The firm describes AI as machine-native intelligence and digital assets as machine-native money, suggesting that stablecoins are better suited for the small, round-the-clock, and programmable payments AI agents require than traditional bank accounts or credit cards.
BlackRock researchers state that because AI agents automate digital workflows, they need payment rails capable of high-volume, low-dollar transactions without human intervention. The report further suggests that digital tokens could be used to price and finance AI compute capacity, effectively transforming computing power into a standardized, investable commodity settled via blockchain.
While the firm highlights the synergy between AI's action-direction and blockchain's programmable settlement, current adoption remains limited. TRM Labs estimated that AI agents account for only 0.6% to 7.5% of settlements on Coinbase's x402 protocol. Critics also point out that on-chain data markets show little revenue from these activities and note that competitors like Stripe and Tempo have developed protocols that support both stablecoins and traditional currencies.
