Money that machines trust

Opinion by: Peter Schroeder, director of global marketing at Circle

Just as the invention of APIs enabled software by allowing systems to communicate and operate autonomously, stablecoins are becoming the financial APIs of artificial intelligence. APIs enable software to seamlessly exchange data and execute tasks without human intervention. Similarly, stablecoins provide the liquidity, programmability and efficiency AI agents need to exchange value and execute transactions in a fully autonomous world.

Stablecoins like USDC bring instant, secure and programmable money into the workflows of AI systems. Autonomous agents, operating on behalf of individuals or businesses, rely on fast and efficient monetary systems to optimize their performance. Together, AI and stablecoins are creating a foundation for “self-driving economies,” where value moves as seamlessly as data does today.

At their core, stablecoins offer financial stability in AI’s fast-paced, data-driven world. They integrate into the operations of AI agents, enabling secure, real-time liquidity for tasks that demand precision and speed. 

As AI becomes increasingly capable of making decisions, executing trades and automating financial processes, stablecoins are emerging as their currency of choice. The programmability of blockchain paired with AI intelligence is giving rise to economies where automation drives efficiency at scale.

The currency of choice for agents is stablecoins

AI operates without bias or emotional relationships, choosing the most efficient tools. Pragmatic and precise, AI agents favor stablecoins for their low cost, programmatic accessibility and near-instant settlement. Stablecoins are becoming the financial backbone of a world where autonomous systems demand reliability and efficiency.

We’re already starting to see the crossover between AI agents and stablecoins, which will manifest in three distinct phases. In “AI + Stablecoins,” the adoption cycle is categorized into these three phases:

The three-phase adoption cycle of AI and stablecoins

• Human-to-agent transactions: Tools like Goat SDK and others have already begun simplifying human purchases. This phase will mature as stablecoins make transactions even more seamless and as experimentation turns to innovation. We’re currently in the age of human-to-agent interactions, where AI tools assist users in simplifying tasks like online shopping, scheduling and decision-making. While autonomous in their workflows, these AI systems are still directed by humans. Stablecoins are beginning to enter this phase, enabling seamless, secure payments that bridge the gap between humans and their digital assistants. In the past month alone, we’ve seen AI agents being used to purchase pizza, an arcade machine and gifts for a friend.

• Agent-to-human transactions: In the not-too-distant future, agents will autonomously work to optimize tasks on our behalf. Stablecoins will further enhance these systems with instant, cost-effective payments. In this next phase, AI agents take a more proactive role, autonomously initiating interactions on behalf of humans. Consider smart home systems purchasing electricity at the best rates or AI assistants executing trades and payments for businesses. Stablecoins amplify this phase by providing the rapid, cost-effective settlement these agents need to act independently and efficiently.

• Agent-to-agent transactions: The future holds a world where AI agents trade, negotiate and transact directly with one another. Coinbase’s recent facilitation of AI-to-AI USDC transactions offers a glimpse into this evolving landscape.

The future belongs to fully autonomous ecosystems where agents transact, negotiate and collaborate directly with one another. From supply chain automation to decentralized finance systems, this phase represents the rise of machine-to-machine economies.

Recent: Multicurrency is the future of stablecoins

While this might sound daunting, these ecosystems are designed to enhance efficiency, transparency and cost savings. Businesses will benefit from streamlined operations, reduced overhead and faster decision-making, while consumers can expect lower costs and improved access to innovative services.

Stablecoins will serve as the base currency in this new economy, enabling intelligent systems to move value over the internet with precision and reliability, ensuring trust and fairness in every transaction.

The trustless power of public blockchains

One of the most transformative aspects of the AI-stablecoin convergence is the trustless nature of blockchain technology. Public blockchains enable AI agents to operate in a completely transparent and verifiable environment.

Every transaction, contract or exchange conducted over these networks is recorded on an immutable ledger, creating a system where trust is no longer dependent on centralized intermediaries. Instead, AI agents can independently verify all the data and transactions they interact with, empowering them to make decisions autonomously and efficiently.

Jeremy Allaire, Circle’s CEO, emphasizes the importance of this trustless infrastructure, noting how stablecoins like USDC are transforming global finance by enabling near-instant, low-cost transactions on open blockchain networks. The networks provide AI agents with access to real-time smart contracts and programmable systems that allow for automated execution of transactions when specific conditions are met. This fusion of AI and blockchain unlocks unprecedented levels of automation and efficiency, from treasury management to innovative use cases like microinsurance for underserved populations​.

As the agentic economy evolves, where AI agents collaborate and transact with one another, the transparency of blockchain networks will play a pivotal role in ensuring accountability. Regulators, too, stand to benefit by using blockchain data and AI tools to monitor systemic risks, detect fraud and maintain oversight of increasingly complex financial markets​.

A future worth building

The convergence of AI and stablecoins is a testament to the unprecedented pace of technological innovation. In 2024 alone, the global DeFi market processed over $1.3 trillion in transaction volume, with stablecoins comprising a significant portion of that liquidity​.

Meanwhile, AI adoption is accelerating faster than any previous technology, with the market for AI systems projected to grow 38% annually through 2030​. 

The synergy between stablecoins and AI is transforming how value is created, exchanged and optimized. These systems eliminate inefficiencies, reduce costs and unlock previously inaccessible opportunities. By blending the stability of programmable money with the intelligence of autonomous systems, stablecoins and AI are pioneering a new era of economic autonomy.

Consider an ecosystem where personal AI agents handle everything from negotiating complex transactions to optimizing energy grids, all powered by stablecoins. As industries adopt these tools, the global economy will become more efficient and inclusive, creating new markets and opportunities.

This transformation reaches far beyond technology. It will redefine commerce, governance and societal organization. AI agents will negotiate contracts, manage digital identities and even form decentralized organizations that challenge traditional hierarchies. This is the architecture of the future economy, with stablecoins serving as the lifeblood of these intelligent, autonomous systems.

Opinion by: Peter Schroeder, director of global marketing at Circle

This article is for general information purposes and is not intended to be and should not be taken as legal or investment advice. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed here are the author’s alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph.

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