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BlackRock says AI could boost stablecoin and on-chain compute demand
BlackRock, in a research paper, argues agentic AI and machine-to-machine payments could increase demand for programmable infrastructure like stablecoins and tokenized computing capacity.
BlackRock says broad adoption of AI could be an underappreciated driver of demand for digital assets, citing how machine-to-machine payments may raise the need for blockchain-based programmable rails, including stablecoins, Cointelegraph reports. In its latest research paper, “The Machine-Native Economy,” the firm also points to a potential opportunity in tokenizing claims on computing capacity, describing a pathway for that capacity to be tokenized, traded, and used as collateral, according to Cointelegraph. Cointelegraph notes that BlackRock links these developments to agentic AI and automated commerce, arguing that even though existing payment rails can support some automation, account setup, credentialing, and authorization may still require human involvement. The firm also highlights that merchant fees can make low-value transactions uneconomic and that settlement and finality can vary by provider. BlackRock concludes that AI could act as a structural catalyst for digital asset adoption and that digital assets could help facilitate an increasingly autonomous AI-driven economy, Cointelegraph reports, adding that stablecoins and other on-chain assets are suited to high-frequency, sub-cent transactions occurring around the clock.