A significant discussion is emerging in the cryptocurrency realm as Reeve Collins, co-founder of Tether, posits that artificial intelligence (AI) could serve as the pivotal element the industry has been seeking for widespread acceptance. In a widely circulated interview from early 2026 with analyst Michael van de Poppe, Collins articulated his belief that AI could act as the catalyst to propel blockchain technology into mainstream usage.
Collins, who also chairs STBL, pointed out that while the sector has established robust financial frameworks, it has often failed to provide a user-friendly interface that caters to the average user.
The Mosaic Moment for Blockchain
To illustrate his point, Collins drew parallels to the introduction of the Mosaic web browser in 1993, which transformed the internet from a tool primarily used by engineers and researchers into a platform accessible to the general public. In his perspective, AI agents are ready to fulfill a similar role for blockchain technology. Instead of manually managing complex tasks like gas fees and private keys, users could engage with their wallets using natural language, making the experience much more intuitive.
Intent-Based Financial Interactions
At the core of Collins” argument is the concept of intent-based finance. This system would allow users to simply express their financial goals rather than execute each transaction step manually. For instance, a user might instruct their wallet to search for the best yield on a certain investment amount. The AI would autonomously manage the details of routing, signing, and executing the transaction. This innovation could potentially eliminate one of the major obstacles in crypto: usability.
The Role of Stablecoins
Collins emphasized that AI agents depend on financial infrastructures that function at machine speed. Traditional banking systems, with their reliance on business hours and batch processing, cannot accommodate the continuous operations required by autonomous software. Stablecoins, such as USDT and newer protocols like STBL, offer a programmable settlement layer that facilitates instant transactions with minimal fees. This capability is crucial for AI agents to perform seamless operations around the clock.
Moreover, Collins highlighted the potential of micropayments, noting that AI could enable millions of small-value transactions, such as minuscule fees for data queries, which would be impractical with conventional banking systems.
Industry Developments Indicate a Shift
This discussion comes at a pivotal time, as numerous prominent companies are developing AI-enabled wallets and payment systems. For example, Coinbase recently launched wallet tools designed for AI management, allowing these systems to handle their own keys and conduct transactions autonomously. Similarly, Stripe has expanded its support for stablecoins to enhance automated digital commerce.
Collins is advocating for STBL as a next-generation “yield-bearing” stablecoin framework that aims to redistribute revenue back to users, contrasting with traditional models that concentrate wealth among centralized issuers. He envisions this as a driving force for what he terms an AI-native economy.
During the interview, van de Poppe suggested that AI-driven micropayments could revolutionize content distribution channels, allowing direct financial interactions between creators and their audiences while reducing the need for intermediaries. Should conversational wallets and intent-based financial transactions become commonplace, the focus of cryptocurrency could shift from mere speculation to facilitating seamless global commerce.
As we move through 2026, the intersection of AI, stablecoins, and programmable finance is increasingly regarded as a significant evolution in the digital economy. The impact of AI agents on blockchain technology may not yet be fully realized, but the narrative surrounding their potential is gaining momentum.
