BlackRock Predicts AI Agents Will Use Stablecoins for Compute and Data Purchases

BlackRock sees AI-driven payments as a near-term opportunity for digital assets, while financial markets tied to computing resources are likely to develop over a longer period.

The asset manager said artificial intelligence could become a significant source of digital asset adoption as autonomous agents begin carrying out transactions, purchasing services and obtaining computing power without direct human involvement.

BlackRock argues that AI supplies “machine-native intelligence,” while blockchain-based assets can provide the payment and settlement infrastructure required for agents to execute decisions. An AI agent could potentially pay for a data request, arrange a service or purchase computing capacity without waiting for a person to approve each transaction.

Stablecoins could benefit first because their relatively stable prices make them easier to use for setting service costs. Blockchain networks can also process payments continuously, without relying on traditional banking hours. BlackRock cited Coinbase’s x402 protocol as an emerging example that allows AI agents to pay for internet resources, including API calls. The firm also noted that established payment networks are evolving as agent-based commerce develops.

Computing power is viewed as a longer-term opportunity. As AI processing requirements increase, standardized claims on computing capacity could eventually be traded, financed or used as collateral through digital-asset infrastructure.

BlackRock referenced analyst estimates that the combined cloud revenue of Amazon, Microsoft and Google could reach roughly $1.1 trillion by 2030.

Despite the potential, the ecosystem remains at an early stage. Payments between AI agents are still developing, while liquid markets for standardized computing contracts have yet to emerge.