Artificial intelligence agents are set to overtake humans in internet activity within the next decade, a transformation that is already forcing tech giants to rethink their business models and presenting a massive opportunity for blockchain-based payments, according to leading voices at Consensus Miami 2026.
During his keynote, Charles Hoskinson, founder of Cardano, asserted that by 2035, the majority of searches, commerce, and general online activity will be driven by AI agents rather than people. He described this shift as an existential threat to advertising-dependent platforms like Google, Facebook, and Amazon, saying they are “terrified of the agentic revolution” because agents do not click ads or hold brand preferences. Hoskinson pointed to Coinbase’s x402 protocol—which enables direct, programmatic payments via stablecoins and crypto rails—as one reason why large tech companies are scrambling to adapt.
Yat Siu, chairman of Animoca Brands, echoed and expanded on that vision. He argued that the metaverse is not a virtual place humans visit, but rather an emerging agent economy where billions of AI systems transact autonomously on-chain. Siu predicted that consumers could eventually deploy hundreds of personal agents to handle bookings, payments, and coordination, with blockchain infrastructure providing the financial and identity layer. He noted that while around 800 million people own cryptocurrency, fewer than 70 million actively use blockchain apps due to complex user experiences. AI agents, however, interact natively with wallets and smart contracts, making blockchain “the ideal financial system for machines.”
Both speakers stressed that the rise of agents could solve crypto’s onboarding problem and unlock a new wave of adoption. Animoca announced a $10 million investment initiative for AI agent development through its Animoca Minds platform. Hoskinson further emphasized the need for users to maintain control of their data and assets, warning against reliance on custodial wallets and permissioned networks. He also highlighted the changing stance of institutions, noting that JPMorgan—once hostile to crypto—now has its own blockchain products.
