AI agents will soon buy their own computing power and data using stablecoins, according to BlackRock
BlackRock suggests that AI agents will soon utilize stablecoins to autonomously purchase computing power and data services. The report highlights the potential for blockchain infrastructure to facilitate machine-to-machine payments as AI demand grows.
Why it matters
It signals a shift toward autonomous economic activity where AI systems act as independent financial agents.
The asset manager argues that AI provides “machine-native intelligence” while digital assets provide the payment and settlement infrastructure agents may need to act on their decisions. An agent carrying out a task could, for example, pay for a data request, book a service or purchase computing capacity without waiting for a person to to complete.
Stablecoins are likely to be the first major beneficiary. Their relatively stable value makes them useful for pricing services, while blockchain networks can support payments around the clock. BlackRock highlights Coinbase x402 protocol as one emerging way agents to pay for online resources, including API calls. It also acknowledges that existing payments networks are adapting to agentic commerce.
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