Crypto Designed for AI Agents, Not Humans, Claims Alchemy CEO

The existing financial system was not created with machines in mind, but rather around human constraints such as geographical location, sleep patterns, and physical presence. However, as AI agents start to participate in the economy, this human-centric design is becoming a hindrance, according to Nikil Viswanathan, co-founder of the crypto firm Alchemy. Viswanathan argues that crypto was essentially built for AI agents, not humans. The current financial system has 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 perform transactions, the need for a more efficient and global financial system becomes apparent. Viswanathan believes that crypto provides the necessary infrastructure for AI agents to operate seamlessly, offering a global, always-on financial layer where value can be transferred as easily as data. The complexity of crypto, which has long been a challenge for humans, is actually a strength when it comes to AI agents, as they operate natively in code and can handle the intricacies of crypto with ease. Viswanathan envisions a future where AI agents will sit on top of crypto infrastructure, managing complexity, executing transactions, and optimizing capital flows in real-time, allowing humans to control their funds more easily. This would result in a more global, programmable, and autonomous financial system.