Key Highlights
- Franklin Templeton published a report linking agentic AI to future blockchain adoption.
- The firm argues AI agents may require crypto rails for autonomous payments and settlements.
- It says cryptocurrencies could benefit as machine-to-machine transactions increase.
Franklin Templeton, a company that manages investments, suggests the next step in the development of artificial intelligence could give cryptocurrencies a new purpose. They believe that as AI systems become more independent, they might use blockchain technology to make payments automatically, without needing people to oversee the transactions.
Sandy Kaul, who leads digital assets and innovation at the firm, wrote in a report released on Wednesday that advanced AI – specifically, ‘agentic AI’ capable of acting on its own – could significantly boost the use of blockchain technology as it begins to handle financial transactions automatically.
— Franklin Templeton Digital Assets (@FTDA_US) July 21, 2026
Why AI needs blockchain? Franklin Templeton states
Franklin Templeton believes artificial intelligence is evolving beyond just creating content or answering questions. Their recent report highlights a new type of AI, called ‘agentic AI,’ which can independently handle complex tasks. This includes things like working with other software, completing purchases, and managing processes with very little human help.
According to industry predictions mentioned in the report, AI programs are expected to handle more and more tasks within business software and online shopping in the future.
Franklin Templeton believes that a move towards an AI-powered economy will need payment systems that can handle transactions between machines automatically. They point out that current payment methods aren’t designed for the many small, automated payments expected in this future. Blockchain technology, however, could offer a solution with its speed, ability to handle customized payments, and secure digital identification.
The report also pointed out new ways to handle payments, including Visa’s Machine Payments Protocol (MPP) and Coinbase’s x402 protocol. Both of these technologies aim to make it easier for software programs to send money directly to each other.
“Blockchain will be pivotal in allowing agentic AI to realize its potential,” the report stated.
What it means for crypto
Franklin Templeton believes that as AI systems become more widespread and independent (‘agentic AI’), it could lead to greater use of blockchain technology and the cryptocurrencies that support it. This is because transactions on blockchains typically require payment in the network’s own cryptocurrency, meaning more AI activity could drive up demand for these digital assets.
Instead of only investing in companies that directly work with artificial intelligence, the firm suggested investors might also look at blockchain technology as a way to benefit from the future growth of tech in general.
OKX recently introduced a new AI marketplace focused on automated trading. This platform links unique digital identities for AI programs with a secure payment system called the Agent Payments Protocol. This allows AI to make deals, complete purchases, and handle payments directly on the blockchain – all without needing a person to oversee it.
Instead of forecasting prices, the report explains how blockchain technology can act as a foundation for self-operating online shopping and trade.
Debate continues around AI and blockchain
The report highlights increasing discussions within the AI and cryptocurrency fields about the potential for decentralized networks to power self-operating software.
Although companies are starting to create ways for machines to automatically pay each other, using AI to handle these transactions on a large scale is still in the beginning phases.
It’s unclear if blockchain will become the main way transactions happen in the growing world of AI-powered shopping, but Franklin Templeton believes it’s a strong contender if that happens.
2026-07-22 18:30