Coinbase chief executive Brian Armstrong has said artificial intelligence will increase demand for cryptocurrency rather than replace it, positioning the exchange’s blockchain infrastructure as the payment layer for autonomous AI systems.
In a post on X, Armstrong outlined Coinbase’s “Agentic Finance” (AiFi) strategy, naming Base, USDC and the x402 payment protocol as its core components. He argued that AI agents will eventually carry out more transactions than humans, using crypto to pay for digital services without relying on traditional banking systems.
“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
How Armstrong says AI agents will use crypto under Coinbase model
Armstrong said AI agents require programmable money because bank accounts, payment cards and conventional checkout systems depend on human identity verification and manual approval.
Under Coinbase’s model, AI software can operate a crypto wallet, pay for API access, purchase computing power, data, research, storage or media generation services, and receive digital products automatically. These payments are processed through Base, Coinbase’s Ethereum layer-2 network, using the x402 payment standard and USDC as the settlement asset.
The company has also introduced Agentic Wallets and Coinbase for Agents, allowing developers to set spending limits and transaction rules while enabling AI systems to trade, manage portfolios and make on-chain payments without requiring approval for every transaction.
Can AI payments become the next growth driver for Base?
Coinbase launched Base in 2023 before expanding its role as the network supporting AI payments through x402, an open protocol introduced in 2025 that allows websites and APIs to request stablecoin payments directly.
Blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis reported in June that x402-related payments on Base had surpassed 100 million transactions within about nine months. The report also found that payment wallets linked to the protocol generally held smaller balances but interacted with a wider range of digital assets than typical Base users.
Coinbase expands AI tools ahead of earnings
Coinbase has continued building products around its AI payment strategy, including Agentic.market, where AI agents can discover and purchase services using USDC. The company has also launched batch settlement, a new feature aimed at making AI agent payments cheaper and more efficient on blockchain networks.
Outside Coinbase, companies are beginning to test the technology in areas such as travel and cloud services. Travel platform Travala recently launched an AI-powered hotel booking system that enables software agents to search more than 2.2 million properties and complete bookings using USDC on Base.
Coinbase is expected to release its second-quarter 2026 financial results on July 30, with investors watching for updates on Base adoption, stablecoin revenue and growth across its AI-focused blockchain products.
Enjoyed this? Bookmark DeFi Planet, explore related topics, and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and CoinMarketCap Community for seamless access to high-quality industry insights
Take control of your crypto portfolio with DEFI PLANET PRO, DeFi Planet’s suite of analytics tools.
