The latest developments in AI agents and their applications in the financial sector are transforming the way transactions are executed. Vincent Chok, CEO of First Digital, delves into the concept of 'agentic finance', where AI agents are moving beyond advisory roles to execute financial transactions, making crypto the essential financial backend for this machine-driven economy.

In a special 'Ask an Expert' segment, three leading AI models - Grok, Gemini, and Claude - share their insights on AI payment use cases and the necessary steps for scalability. As AI agents continue to grow in popularity, it is crucial for financial advisors to understand the potential risks and benefits of this emerging technology. With the increasing demand for agent-native wallets, stablecoin payment rails, and data or compute marketplaces, crypto is becoming the infrastructure for autonomous systems, rather than just an asset class.

As the technology continues to mature, regulatory clarity will play a significant role in shaping the pace and scope of adoption across different industries. In the next twelve months, key signals to watch include growth in agent-driven transaction volume, emergence of agent-native wallets and payments protocols, and deeper integration between stablecoins and AI-driven systems.