In a recent interview, Illia Polosukhin, co-founder of NEAR, outlined a transformative vision for the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and cryptocurrency. He believes that AI will soon serve as the primary interface for online activities, including those involving blockchain technology, fundamentally altering how users interact with digital assets.
Polosukhin argues that while AI has already permeated daily life—assisting with tasks from drafting emails to managing workflows—the crypto sector has yet to experience a significant breakthrough akin to the DeFi summer or NFT boom. He suggests that the future will see AI agents acting as the main users of blockchain, with the technology itself operating in the background.
“The users of blockchain will be AI agents,” Polosukhin stated, emphasizing that AI will simplify interactions with blockchain by abstracting complex elements like wallets and transaction hashes. He views the existence of blockchain explorers as a sign that the technology has not yet been adequately simplified for users.
According to Polosukhin, AI will not only facilitate transactions but also manage assets, coordinate services, and participate in governance. He envisions a future where humans engage primarily with AI, which will act as the front end for various online services, including financial transactions.
He expressed concern over the current state of the crypto industry, criticizing its focus on speculative tokens and trading bots rather than addressing core issues. Polosukhin pointed out that decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) have largely failed due to a lack of clear objectives, arguing that governance tools should be tied to specific economic or coordination needs.
The cultural divide between the AI and crypto communities is another point of contention. Polosukhin noted that the prevalence of memecoins has tarnished the reputation of the crypto industry, alienating serious AI researchers who are wary of the rampant speculation and scams associated with these tokens.
Despite these challenges, Polosukhin sees a long-term convergence between AI and crypto, focusing on infrastructure rather than token launches. As AI systems take on more responsibilities—such as paying bills and allocating capital—they will increasingly rely on trusted execution and programmable financial coordination, areas where blockchain can provide essential support.
In this evolving landscape, Polosukhin posits that crypto’s future may not be about being a visible application but rather serving as an underlying settlement layer that AI agents depend on for seamless transactions.
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Illia Polosukhin of NEAR envisions a future where AI becomes the primary interface for cryptocurrency, simplifying user interactions with blockchain technology. He critiques the current crypto landscape for its focus on speculative tokens and emphasizes the need for a more infrastructure-driven approach to integrate AI and blockchain effectively.