- Franklin Templeton says agentic AI could accelerate blockchain adoption through autonomous machine-to-machine payments.
- AI agents may rely on cryptocurrencies for blockchain transactions, automated settlements, and decentralized identity.
- Growing AI-driven blockchain activity could expand Web3 adoption, ecosystem funding, and demand for network tokens.
Franklin Templeton published a report by Sandy Kaul, Head of Digital Assets and Innovation, outlining how agentic AI could increase blockchain and cryptocurrency adoption. The report, released after AI’s rapid expansion and citing data through July 14, 2026, argues that autonomous AI systems require blockchain infrastructure for machine-to-machine payments, identity verification, and transaction settlement.
Agentic AI Shifts Toward Autonomous Transactions
According to Franklin Templeton, artificial intelligence has progressed from machine learning to generative AI, with agentic AI becoming the next stage. Unlike conversational systems, agentic AI can plan, execute, and complete tasks without continuous human supervision.
The report cited forecasts showing that 38% of organizations expect AI agents to work alongside employees by 2028. It also estimated that agentic commerce could reach between $3 trillion and $5 trillion by 2030.
As AI handles more transactions, payment systems have started adapting. According to Franklin Templeton, Stripe and Visa introduced the Machine Payments Protocol, while Coinbase transferred its x402 payment protocol to the Linux Foundation as an open standard.
The report added that companies including Shopify, Google, Amazon Web Services, and payment providers have adopted the standard to support software-driven payments.
Blockchain Supports Machine Payments
According to Sandy Kaul, blockchain networks provide features needed for autonomous AI transactions. These include smart contract execution, decentralized identity verification, transparent record keeping, and distributed computing resources.
The report also compared blockchain settlement with traditional payment systems. It noted that newer networks such as Aptos, Solana, and BNB Chain process thousands of transactions per second, while blockchain networks also settle transactions during processing.
Meanwhile, Franklin Templeton said legacy payment systems remain less suitable for low-value AI micropayments because of transaction fees.
Report Highlights Crypto’s Role
The report stated that AI agents would need native cryptocurrencies to record transactions on blockchain networks. Consequently, growing machine-to-machine activity could increase demand for network tokens used to process payments.
According to Franklin Templeton, higher transaction activity could also expand blockchain treasuries, supporting developer grants, security programs, and ecosystem growth.
The report further stated that blockchain applications could gain wider adoption as AI agents manage payments automatically, allowing users to access Web3 services without directly handling cryptocurrencies or digital wallets.