Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong said the rapid development of artificial intelligence will not reduce the importance of the cryptocurrency sector, arguing instead that digital assets will play a more critical role in the new technological era.

In comments on the social media platform X, Armstrong said artificial intelligence and cryptocurrencies should not be viewed as competing technologies. He described them as complementary infrastructures that may increasingly operate together as AI systems become more advanced.

Armstrong said artificial intelligence has become one of the most important technology trends of the current period, while the value proposition of cryptocurrencies continues to strengthen. According to the Coinbase CEO, crypto technology functions as a form of general-purpose infrastructure, comparable to electricity or the internet, and could become one of the main tools used by AI systems to carry out financial transactions.

He argued that demand for digital assets may rise as autonomous AI agents become more widespread, because existing financial systems are not fully suited to that type of technology. Armstrong said AI agents cannot open bank accounts or wait for international money transfers to be completed, making cryptocurrencies useful as a real-time and programmable payment system.

The argument reflects a broader discussion in the technology and crypto industries about how software agents could interact with financial rails without relying on traditional account-opening processes, business hours, or manual approvals. Blockchains are often presented in that context as networks that can support programmable transfers, on-chain settlement, and wallet-based access for applications.

According to Armstrong, AI agents may eventually do more than make payments. He said they could independently carry out a range of economic activities, including fund management, investment transactions, trading, financial advisory services, and capital raising. In that scenario, blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies would provide the underlying infrastructure needed for AI systems to conduct financial transactions securely and seamlessly.

A number of technology companies have recently been exploring ways to combine artificial intelligence with blockchain technology. Areas such as decentralized finance (DeFi), smart contracts, and tokenization are often cited among the major fields where AI-based systems and blockchain applications could be integrated. For the sector, key issues to watch include whether AI agents can use crypto payment tools in practical applications, how regulators treat automated financial activity, and whether developers build reliable identity, compliance, and security controls around these systems.