Franklin Templeton’s Sandy Kaul has a message for investors riding the artificial intelligence (AI) wave: don’t put all your eggs in the stock basket. The real magic, she argues, lies in the intersection of AI and cryptocurrencies, where autonomous AI agents are expected to transact onchain. So, what’s the deal?
The argument goes like this: as AI evolves, it won’t just perform tasks. Instead, AI will act as autonomous agents in the financial ecosystem, executing complex transactions. However, our traditional payment systems aren’t built for this futuristic scenario. Enter the world of blockchain, where cryptocurrencies and altcoins can support the kind of low-fee, programmable payment solutions needed by these AI agents.
The intersection of AI and blockchain
By 2030, the concept known as agentic commerce is projected to handle between $3 trillion and $5 trillion. AI agents could manage 15% to 25% of all U.S. e-commerce sales. If these numbers are accurate, it signals a significant shift that traditional payment systems are not equipped to handle. Blockchains, particularly those with high transaction throughput, present the ideal infrastructure for this technological evolution.
Kaul points to blockchains like Aptos, Solana, and BNB Chain. With transaction capabilities reportedly reaching as high as 12,933 transactions per second (TPS) on Aptos, these blockchains could support the hefty demands expected from AI transactions. This isn’t just theory; it’s part of Franklin Templeton’s strategic focus, following its acquisition of 250 Digital Asset Management and the launch of the Franklin Crypto division.
