In a recent interview on CNBC's "Squawk Box," Palantir Technologies co-founder Joe Lonsdale expressed his belief that AI agents will likely incorporate crypto into their transactions.
When the host, Joe Kernen, suggested that early investors in Bitcoin might have made a wise move, Lonsdale countered by introducing the idea of an unexpected buyer entering the market. He pointed to autonomous AI agents as potential influencers in the crypto market.
"There's not going to be a whole new financial story driving it from the side of buyers necessarily," stated Lonsdale. "Although, there's one type of buyer that's very important here — AI agents are going to start to do a lot of things in our economy, and AI agents that coordinate with incentive systems are probably going to use crypto. So, if this AI story works out in consumer areas … everything to AI."
Responding to co-host Andrew Ross Sorkin's skepticism about AI agents using Bitcoin, Lonsdale suggested that they might prefer other cryptocurrencies such as Ethereum or Solana.
Earlier in the show, Lonsdale emphasized the tangible advantages of AI, specifically its potential to enhance profit margins. He highlighted the healthcare billing sector as an example, predicting that AI could double the margins in that area, leading to a significant reduction in spending.
Grayscale, the prominent crypto asset manager, has also contributed to the discussion. In a recent study, the company highlighted potential benefits arising from the convergence of AI and crypto. It pointed out that challenges related to AI, such as deepfake proliferation, data privacy concerns, and power concentration, could be addressed through advancements in the relationship between AI and crypto.
