BlackRock: AI Can Boost Crypto Demand
BITmarkets Team
Oct 14, 2026
In its latest research paper, “The Machine-Native Economy,” BlackRock explored how the expansion of AI-powered systems and automated machine-to-machine transactions could increase the need for programmable payment networks and onchain assets. The report also identified opportunities for blockchain technology in the computing industry, where access to processing capacity could potentially be tokenized, traded and used as collateral.
“Together, these developments position AI as a structural catalyst for digital asset adoption and digital assets as a potential facilitator of the AI economy,” BlackRock’s Will Su, Robert Mitchnick, Jay Jacobs and William Helm wrote. “This relationship remains underappreciated and could expand the role of digital assets as core infrastructure for an increasingly autonomous digital economy.”
While cryptocurrency companies have previously highlighted the potential relationship between AI and blockchain technology, BlackRock's research could bring greater institutional attention to the emerging sector.
BlackRock sees AI agents driving demand for digital payments
One of the report's central arguments is that the rise of autonomous AI agents could create greater demand for payment systems designed to operate without continuous human involvement. Although traditional financial infrastructure supports certain automated transactions, processes such as account registration, identity verification and payment authorization may still require human intervention.
Transaction fees can also make very small payments impractical, while settlement speeds and transaction finality differ across financial service providers. BlackRock suggested that stablecoins, native cryptocurrencies and tokenized real-world assets could be particularly suitable for high-frequency, low-value transactions conducted between machines around the clock.
These payment systems could enable AI agents to independently purchase digital services, access information and execute transactions without relying on conventional banking processes. “Several types of digital assets may support agentic commerce, but stablecoins are likely to lead transactional use,” the authors said.
Tokenized computing power could create new digital asset markets
Beyond payments, BlackRock identified the expanding market for computing resources as another potential opportunity for digital assets. The increasing demand for AI processing power could encourage technology companies to secure computing capacity in advance to manage costs and ensure access to essential infrastructure.
Under the model outlined in the research, contractual claims on computing capacity could be represented as blockchain-based tokens, allowing them to be transferred, traded or pledged as collateral. This could introduce additional financial flexibility for companies purchasing computing resources while creating new investment opportunities for institutional market participants.
“This could in turn broaden institutional investor participation and establish compute as a new opportunity for the broader digital asset ecosystem,” the authors said. The researchers also suggested that autonomous AI agents could eventually participate directly in these markets, purchasing computing resources automatically based on their operational requirements.
Crypto companies develop payment infrastructure for AI agents
BlackRock's findings reflect a growing view within the cryptocurrency industry that artificial intelligence could increase demand for blockchain-based financial services. In July, Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong rejected suggestions that cryptocurrency companies should shift their focus away from blockchain technology toward AI.
“AI being a megatrend takes nothing away from crypto,” Armstrong wrote, arguing that autonomous AI systems will require programmable financial infrastructure rather than relying exclusively on traditional banking networks. “If anything, it makes crypto more important,” he added.
Several cryptocurrency companies have already introduced technologies intended to support automated payments between AI agents and digital services. Coinbase's x402 protocol and Tempo's Machine Payments Protocol are designed to enable AI-powered systems to execute online payments independently.
Circle introduced agent wallets and USDC payment tools in May, providing infrastructure for AI-driven stablecoin transactions. Meanwhile, OKX developed its Agent Payments Protocol to support recurring automated payments and escrow-based arrangements, where funds can be held until an agreed task has been completed.
Together, these initiatives demonstrate how cryptocurrency companies are preparing for a potential increase in autonomous financial activity, as AI systems become more capable of conducting transactions and managing digital resources independently.
Sources:
https://www.blackrock.com/us/individual/literature/whitepaper/the-machine-native-economy.pdf
