BlackRock Says AI Agents Could Increase Demand for Stablecoins and Programmable Payments

Artificial intelligence agents could drive additional demand for stablecoins and programmable payment infrastructure, while tokenized computing capacity may present another opportunity for digital assets, according to BlackRock.

AI and Digital Payments

BlackRock said the potential impact of AI-driven activity on cryptocurrency markets remains underappreciated. As AI agents increasingly perform tasks autonomously, they may require payment systems capable of operating continuously and settling transactions programmatically.

Stablecoins—digital assets designed to maintain a stable value, typically by tracking a fiat currency—could support these transactions. Their blockchain-based structure allows for transfers across digital networks without relying exclusively on traditional payment rails.

Tokenized Computing Capacity

BlackRock also identified tokenized computing capacity as a potential area of opportunity. Tokenization can represent access to digital resources, such as processing power, on a blockchain, enabling those resources to be exchanged or settled through digital assets.

The firm’s comments highlight two potential links between AI and the crypto sector: increased use of stablecoins for machine-to-machine payments and the development of markets for tokenized infrastructure supporting AI applications.