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OpenLedger founder calls agentic payments crypto’s first AI killer app

Ram Kumar said AI agents will adopt crypto for payments because they may not be able to open bank accounts or complete KYC.

Reported · Written up by our desk · Market Structure

OpenLedger core contributor Ram Kumar said agentic payments could become crypto’s first major “killer app” as AI agents seek ways to transact when they cannot access traditional banking, according to an interview covered by The Block.

Speaking at the Wyoming Blockchain Symposium 2026, Kumar argued that in the near term the most straightforward payment route for AI agents is crypto, given that an agent cannot create a bank account or complete know-your-customer checks.

Kumar also said agent-driven trading is likely to follow payments, describing a progression in which agents start with small amounts and then expand as they take on more of the trading process.

He added that OpenLedger plans to broaden its AI platform beyond business users toward consumers over the next couple of years, after focusing on AI infrastructure that included an $8 million seed round in 2024 and the launch of OPEN Mainnet in November to track AI data provenance and distribute rewards.

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