Summary:
- Brian Armstrong argued that AI will strengthen cryptocurrency by increasing demand for blockchain payment infrastructure supporting autonomous machine-to-machine transactions.
- Coinbase highlighted x402, Base, and USDC as key technologies powering AI agent payments across blockchain-based financial infrastructure.
- AI dominates venture capital funding, while researchers believe blockchain and AI will develop complementary use cases across multiple industries.
Coinbase Chief Executive Officer Brian Armstrong has rejected claims that investors should shift their attention from cryptocurrency to artificial intelligence. According to Armstrong in a post on X, AI will increase the need for blockchain infrastructure because autonomous AI agents will require digital payment systems.
Armstrong argued that viewing AI and crypto as competing technologies reflects a zero-sum mindset, explaining that cryptocurrency serves as general-purpose financial infrastructure and becomes more valuable as AI adoption expands across industries.
According to Armstrong, AI agents will eventually process more daily transactions than humans, requiring efficient financial networks capable of handling machine-to-machine payments without relying on traditional banking infrastructure.
He also highlighted Coinbase’s role in developing that ecosystem, noting that the company’s x402 protocol, Base network, and USDC stablecoin already power a large share of agent-focused payment activity. Moreover, he suggested that those tools provide a foundation for future AI-driven financial interactions.
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“If you’re in crypto, pivot to AI.”
I used to hear versions of this, and it’s the wrong way to think about the world. It’s zero sum, scarcity thinking.
Crypto is a general purpose technology. It’s infrastructure, the same way electricity or the internet is infrastructure. It…
— Brian Armstrong (@brian_armstrong) July 26, 2026
AI investment surge reshapes technology funding
Armstrong’s comments come as artificial intelligence attracts a growing share of global technology investment. Many market observers have argued that AI is drawing capital, engineering talent, and investor interest away from cryptocurrency projects.
According to data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, AI companies attracted about 61% of global venture capital investment during 2025. The sector secured nearly $259 billion in funding, reflecting strong institutional confidence in artificial intelligence development.
Additionally, AI startups received roughly 41% of all venture funding in the United States. Companies such as OpenAI and Anthropic completed major fundraising rounds, reinforcing AI’s dominance within the venture capital market.
However, crypto-focused investment firms have faced a different environment, with Galaxy Research reporting that raising capital has become increasingly challenging as more investors direct funding toward AI businesses. Recent market data also showed crypto venture deal activity has dropped to its lowest level in approximately five years.
Despite those trends, Armstrong maintained that AI’s growth does not reduce crypto’s long-term importance. According to his statement on X, expanding AI adoption increases demand for blockchain networks because autonomous software requires secure, programmable payment infrastructure.
Researchers from several universities reached a similar conclusion in a recent study examining AI and blockchain integration. Their findings suggested that meaningful collaboration between both technologies remains in its early stages. However, the researchers noted that AI could create practical use cases for blockchain as autonomous applications become more common.
Conclusion
Armstrong’s latest comments frame artificial intelligence as a driver of crypto adoption rather than a competing technology. According to his view, blockchain infrastructure will become increasingly important as AI agents begin conducting large-scale autonomous financial transactions.
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