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

The current financial system was not designed with machines in mind, but rather around human limitations such as geography, 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 crypto firm Alchemy. Viswanathan suggests that crypto was actually built for AI agents, not humans. The traditional financial system has operating hours, country-based payments, and credit cards that require physical identity and presence, all of which are limitations for AI agents that do not sleep, have no physical presence, and can transact online. As AI agents become more prevalent, they will require a financial system that is global, always-on, and programmable, which is exactly what crypto offers. According to Viswanathan, the complexity of crypto, including seed phrases and private keys, is actually a strength when it comes to AI agents, which operate natively in code. The shift from human-centric crypto tools to AI-centric tools is comparable to the shift from the postal system to the internet, where communication became much faster and more efficient. Viswanathan envisions a future where AI agents sit on top of crypto infrastructure, handling complexity and managing transactions, resulting in a more global, programmable, and autonomous financial system.