Nikil Viswanathan, CEO and co-founder of Alchemy, a leading crypto infrastructure firm, asserts that the traditional financial system is fundamentally designed for human users, creating limitations as artificial intelligence (AI) agents begin to participate in economic activities. He argues that this human-centric framework is increasingly becoming a hindrance as AI agents, which operate continuously and without geographical constraints, emerge as significant economic actors.
Viswanathan points out that conventional banking practices, including operating hours and payment systems tied to national borders, are structured around human behaviors and needs. In contrast, AI agents function differently; they do not require sleep, physical presence, or identity verification, allowing them to engage in transactions at any time and across any location.
“All transactions for agents are online. They’re inherently global,” Viswanathan stated in a recent interview. He emphasized that cryptocurrency is evolving from a mere alternative financial system to a foundational infrastructure tailored for AI-driven commerce.
Alchemy provides essential tools and services that enable developers to create blockchain-based applications. These offerings include APIs, node infrastructure, and data services that support a range of applications, from financial services to non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and gaming. This infrastructure allows companies to develop and scale on-chain products without the complexities typically associated with blockchain technology.
According to Viswanathan, traditional finance is laden with friction, particularly in cross-border transactions that involve currency exchanges and intermediaries. For humans, such processes are commonplace; however, they pose significant challenges for AI agents, which require seamless, instantaneous transactions.
Viswanathan argues that cryptocurrency provides a solution, offering a global, always-available financial layer that facilitates the movement of value akin to data. “Crypto is the global infrastructure for money that agents need,” he explained.
He further noted that while the complexities of cryptocurrency—such as seed phrases and private keys—have made it challenging for human users, these elements are advantageous for AI agents that operate in a digital environment. “Agents read in zeros and ones. That’s their native language,” Viswanathan remarked, drawing a parallel between the evolution of communication from postal systems to the internet.
Looking ahead, Viswanathan envisions a financial landscape where AI agents manage the intricacies of transactions and capital flows in real time, simplifying financial management for human users. “You can write code to manage a crypto wallet; you can’t write code to manage a bank account in the same way,” he noted.
This shift could lead to a financial system characterized by greater global connectivity, programmability, and autonomy. Viswanathan anticipates a layered structure in which traditional finance and cryptocurrency coexist, with AI agents operating in the middle and human interfaces at the top. “Just like computers operate the internet and humans use it, agents will operate finance,” he concluded.
Nikil Viswanathan, CEO of Alchemy, discusses the limitations of traditional finance in accommodating AI agents. He argues that cryptocurrency could serve as the foundational infrastructure for a new economic model driven by these agents, facilitating seamless global transactions and greater programmability.