Crypto Designed for AI, Not Humans, According to Alchemy CEO

The existing financial system was constructed with human constraints in mind, including geographical boundaries, sleep patterns, paperwork, and physical presence. However, as AI agents start to participate in economic activities, this human-centric design is becoming a hindrance, according to Nikil Viswanathan, co-founder of Alchemy. Viswanathan argues that cryptocurrency was essentially built for AI agents, not humans. The discrepancy is evident everywhere: banks have limited operating hours due to human limitations, payments are tied to countries because humans reside in them, and credit cards rely on physical identity and presence. In contrast, AI agents operate without sleep, geographical constraints, or physical presence. They can transact online, globally, and without the need for physical infrastructure or identity. According to Viswanathan, traditional finance is designed with friction in mind, which is normal for humans but unusable for AI agents. AI agents require seamless, global, and programmable transactions, which cryptocurrency can provide. The complexity that has historically made cryptocurrency challenging for humans is precisely what makes it powerful for machines, as they operate natively in code. Viswanathan envisions a future where AI agents will manage crypto wallets, execute transactions, and optimize capital flows in real-time, allowing people to control their funds more easily. This would result in a more global, programmable, and autonomous financial system, with AI agents operating at the core and humans interacting with it through a user-friendly interface.