Crypto Designed for AI Agents Rather Than Humans, According to Alchemy CEO

The current 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 begin 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 cryptocurrency was actually built for AI agents, not humans. The traditional financial system is filled with limitations, such as banking hours and geographical constraints, which are a result of human needs. In contrast, AI agents do not require rest, have no physical presence, and can operate globally without boundaries. As AI agents start to transact and participate in the economy, they require a system that can facilitate seamless, global, and programmable transactions. According to Viswanathan, cryptocurrency provides exactly that - a global financial layer where value can be transferred as easily as data. The complexity of cryptocurrency, which has long been a challenge for humans, is actually a strength when it comes to machines. AI agents operate natively in code and can interact with cryptocurrency seamlessly. Viswanathan believes that the future of finance will be layered, with traditional finance and cryptocurrency at the base, an agent layer operating on top, and a human interface above that. In this future, AI agents will handle complexity, manage wallets, and optimize capital flows in real-time, making it easier for people to control their funds.