Crypto Infrastructure Better Suited for AI Agents Than Humans, According to Alchemy CEO

The current financial system was designed with human constraints such as geographical location, sleep patterns, and physical presence in mind. However, with the rise of AI agents as economic participants, this design is becoming a hindrance, according to Nikil Viswanathan, co-founder of crypto firm Alchemy. Viswanathan argues that cryptocurrency was, in fact, built for AI agents rather than humans. The traditional banking system, with its limited operating hours and ties to physical locations, is not well-suited for AI agents that operate around the clock and transcend geographical boundaries. In contrast, cryptocurrency offers a global, always-on financial layer that allows for seamless transactions across borders. According to Viswanathan, the complexity of cryptocurrency, which has long been a barrier for human adoption, is actually a strength when it comes to AI agents. These agents operate natively in code and can interact with cryptocurrency's underlying architecture with ease. Viswanathan compares the shift towards AI agents using cryptocurrency to the transition from the postal system to the internet, where communication became faster and more efficient. He envisions a future where AI agents sit on top of crypto infrastructure, handling complexity and managing transactions, making it easier for people to control their funds. This would result in a more global, programmable, and autonomous financial system. Viswanathan sees a layered future, with traditional finance and crypto at the base, an agent layer operating on top, and a human interface above that, similar to how computers operate the internet and humans use it.