BlackRock expects AI-related payments to provide a more immediate opportunity for digital assets, while financial markets built around computing resources could take longer to mature.

In a recent paper, the asset manager said artificial intelligence may become an important source of digital asset adoption as autonomous agents begin making payments, purchasing services and securing computing resources independently.

BlackRock describes AI as providing “machine-native intelligence,” while digital assets could supply the payment and settlement infrastructure needed to turn an agent’s decisions into transactions. In practice, an AI agent could pay for a data request, order a service or obtain computing power without requiring a human to intervene in each step.

Stablecoins are likely to play an early role because their relatively stable value can simplify the pricing of digital services. Blockchain networks also allow payments to be processed around the clock. BlackRock highlighted Coinbase’s x402 protocol as an emerging example of infrastructure that lets AI agents pay for internet-based resources, including API calls. At the same time, traditional payment providers are beginning to adapt their systems to support agent-driven transactions.

The market for computing resources could become a larger opportunity over time. With AI workloads increasing, standardized claims on computing capacity could eventually be traded in financial markets, financed or pledged as collateral using digital-asset infrastructure.

BlackRock cited analyst estimates suggesting that the combined cloud revenue of Amazon, Microsoft and Google could approach $1.1 trillion by 2030.

For now, the infrastructure remains relatively immature. Payments between autonomous agents are still developing, and liquid markets for standardized contracts tied to computing capacity have yet to emerge.