Franklin Templeton Says AI Agents Could Be Blockchain’s Next Killer Use Case
Summary
- Sandy Kaul said AI agents could become the next killer use case for blockchain and cryptocurrencies.
- Kaul said an AI agent-based economy would boost demand for blockchains that handle machine-to-machine micropayments, and identified Solana (SOL), Aptos (APT) and BNB Chain as well suited to that role.
- Visa said traditional card payment networks are not sufficient for AI agent-based micropayments, and that infrastructure with effectively zero fees and faster settlement speeds is needed.
Forecast Trend Report by Period
AI agents could emerge as the next killer use case for blockchain and cryptocurrencies.
Sandy Kaul, Franklin Templeton’s head of digital assets and innovation, wrote on X on July 22 that an AI agent-driven economy would increase demand for blockchains that can process machine-to-machine micropayments, Cointelegraph reported. Traditional card networks are poorly suited to AI-agent payments because of high fees and long settlement times.
Kaul cited blockchain networks including Solana (SOL), Aptos (APT) and BNB Chain as well suited to the AI-agent economy. Those networks can process transactions within seconds, faster than Visa’s network, which typically settles in one to three business days.
Visa recently made a similar point in a report, saying traditional card payment networks are not sufficient for an AI agent-based economy. For AI agent-based micropayments to become commercially viable, the company said, infrastructure will need fees that are effectively close to zero and faster settlement speeds.
Visa’s crypto business also released tools in March to support AI-agent payments.
JOON HYOUNG LEE
gilson@bloomingbit.ioCrypto Journalist based in Seoul