Yat Siu, chairman of Animoca Brands, has presented a transformative vision for the metaverse, suggesting that its evolution will be driven not by immersive virtual environments but by AI agents facilitating transactions and interactions on blockchain networks. Speaking at Consensus Miami 2026, Siu emphasized that the metaverse may be increasingly integrated into daily life rather than existing as a separate digital realm.
During his keynote address, Siu noted a significant departure from the pandemic-era concept of the metaverse, which focused on users engaging in extensive social and economic activities within virtual worlds. Instead, he proposes that AI systems will operate in the background, managing tasks such as payments, bookings, and coordination, with blockchain serving as the underlying infrastructure.
Siu articulated a future where consumers could depend on numerous AI agents to streamline their digital interactions. He predicted that there could be “50 to 100 billion agents roaming essentially on the internet,” performing various functions without the need for human intervention.
This shift, he argued, could address one of the persistent challenges in the cryptocurrency sector: the onboarding of everyday users. Despite an estimated 700 to 800 million cryptocurrency owners globally, fewer than 70 million actively engage with blockchain applications, largely due to the technical complexities that deter mainstream adoption.
“My mom’s not going to be using MetaMask,” Siu remarked, pointing out the barriers faced by average consumers. In contrast, AI agents could seamlessly interact with digital wallets, smart contracts, and decentralized finance systems, executing transactions autonomously.
Siu asserted, “Blockchain technology is the ideal financial system for machines,” suggesting that AI agents could redefine how transactions are conducted, bypassing traditional banking infrastructures entirely. This perspective aligns with a growing sentiment within the crypto industry that the most scalable users of blockchain technology may ultimately be autonomous software agents rather than human operators.
As part of this vision, Animoca announced a $10 million investment initiative aimed at supporting developers who are creating AI agent applications through its Animoca Minds platform. If Siu’s predictions hold true, the next significant wave of blockchain adoption may not stem from a surge of human users but rather from billions of AI agents engaging in transactions behind the scenes.
In related discussions at Consensus 2026, executives from companies such as Two Prime, Ledn, and Lygos Finance highlighted a shift among institutional borrowers towards more traditional finance practices. They noted an increasing preference for custody, transparency, and standardized lending structures, especially in light of the complexities that emerged during the 2022 crypto credit collapses.
- Institutional bitcoin lenders are moving away from intricate DeFi frameworks in favor of clearer, more transparent financial practices.
- Panelists emphasized the importance of scrutinizing the storage of bitcoin collateral and the rehypothecation of assets, reflecting lessons learned from past lending failures.
Yat Siu of Animoca Brands proposes a future metaverse driven by AI agents managing transactions on blockchain networks, moving away from traditional immersive environments. This shift could simplify user engagement with crypto technologies and reshape the landscape of digital economies.