AI is beginning to use blockchain as infrastructure — not just a narrative.
2024–2025, 'AI x Crypto' is marketing hype. Many pitch decks talk about synergy, but there are few real applications.
2026 reversal: less talk, but AI becomes a real user of the chain.
Agent uses blockchain to:
• pay fees,
• store state,
• query decentralized data,
• run contracts,
• self-custody of assets.
No drama, no tokens, no sentiment — only the criteria of the 'machine': fees, throughput, latency, data, uptime.
On-chain data is beginning to reflect this:
• Gas from 'bot/agent' accounts for ~12–18% on some L2s in Q4/2025 (up from ~4% in early 2025).
• The ratio of call contracts > transactions from users is increasing in the infra sector.
• Many queries/states are transitioning to a 'machine-to-contract' model.
AI is pulling crypto from 'financial infrastructure' to automated infrastructure.
Similar to how the Internet went from 'sending emails' → 'running software'.
In 2026, we won't ask 'Does AI need crypto?'
But ask: which chain will the agent choose and why?
