Justin Sun says artificial intelligence still holds the potential to become crypto’s next major growth driver, but the sector must first deliver a product that clearly resonates with users.

The Tron founder doubled down on his AI optimism this week after posting “All in AI” on X, though he acknowledged that most AI-related crypto projects remain more aspirational than practical. Speaking with CoinDesk ahead of Consensus Hong Kong 2026, Sun said the industry has yet to produce a breakout application that demonstrates real-world value.

While AI is increasingly framed by investors as the next catalyst for digital assets, Sun argued that crypto lacks a defining moment similar to ChatGPT — a consumer-facing product that makes the technology’s utility immediately clear.

“Most of the AI tokens right now are still just concepts,” Sun said in Hong Kong. “They haven’t reached the point where people can really use them.”

Until such a breakthrough arrives, Sun said market excitement alone is unlikely to support a sustained rally, leaving crypto’s progress anchored in established use cases such as payments, settlement, and financial infrastructure.

Even so, Sun said the long-term convergence of AI and blockchain remains one of the industry’s most promising opportunities, particularly if developers prioritize tools that deliver immediate, practical benefits rather than experimental features.

For now, he said the strongest and most consistent demand continues to come from stablecoins and cross-border payments. In regions of the global south where inflation has eroded trust in local currencies, USDT on Tron has become an important financial lifeline.

As Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino has previously highlighted, high-value imports in countries like Bolivia are increasingly being settled in USDT rather than local fiat.

“Blockchain enables digital dollar settlement for the first time, allowing money to move anywhere, 24/7,” Sun said.

Until AI applications can offer the same clarity and usefulness that stablecoins already provide, Sun said crypto’s most visible progress will remain in the infrastructure quietly supporting everyday transactions.