Alchemy CEO: Cryptocurrency is Better Suited for AI Agents Than Humans

The existing financial system was created with human constraints such as geography, sleep patterns, and physical presence in mind. However, with the emergence of AI agents as economic participants, this human-centric design is becoming a hindrance, according to Nikil Viswanathan, co-founder of the crypto firm Alchemy. Viswanathan argues that cryptocurrency was essentially built for AI agents, not humans. The traditional financial system is characterized by limitations such as banking hours, country-specific payments, and credit cards that require physical identity and presence. In contrast, AI agents operate around the clock, are not bound by geographical locations, and do not require physical presence or identity. As AI agents increasingly engage in transactions, the need for a more seamless and global financial system becomes apparent. Viswanathan believes that cryptocurrency provides the necessary infrastructure for AI agents to operate efficiently, allowing for frictionless transactions across borders and at any time. The complexity of cryptocurrency, which has long been a barrier for human users, is actually a strength when it comes to AI agents, which can operate natively in code. According to Viswanathan, the shift towards AI agents using cryptocurrency is similar to the transition from the postal system to the internet, where communication became faster and more efficient. In the future, AI agents will sit on top of crypto infrastructure, managing complexity, executing transactions, and optimizing capital flows in real-time, making it easier for people to control their funds. This will result in a more global, programmable, and autonomous financial system.