AI agents could drive stablecoin payments as early as 2027

Artificial intelligence (AI) agents could become a major driver of stablecoin adoption as early as 2027, with autonomous systems increasingly handling purchases and financial transactions on behalf of users, digital asset executives said at the ADGM Global Media Forum.

Andrej Majcen, Co-Founder and Group CEO of Bitcoin Suisse, said the rapid development of AI could create a new category of economic participants capable of completing transactions with limited human involvement.

“I would assume that 2027 will be the year of the proliferation of AI agents,” Majcen said.

As these systems become more independent, they will need payment methods that are fast, efficient and easy to integrate into automated processes. Although AI agents could use traditional payment methods such as credit cards, Majcen expects stablecoins and other digital assets to gain traction because of their programmability and efficiency.

Stablecoins are digital assets designed to maintain a relatively stable value, typically by being linked to a traditional currency such as the US dollar.

AI Agents Could Transform Digital Payments

Edward Hong, Senior Executive Officer of Hashed Global Management and Chief Platform Officer and Partner at Hashed, said AI agents could begin interacting directly with one another within the next three to five years.

These systems could independently purchase products, access data and pay for computing services. Such activities would create demand for payment infrastructure capable of supporting fast, programmable and cross-border transactions.

Hong said stablecoins could play an important role in enabling payments between AI agents.

The discussion also explored the possibility of these technologies extending to everyday consumer payments. However, the executives did not provide a confirmed timeline for widespread adoption.

Banks Prepare for Blockchain-Based Payments

Financial institutions are also preparing for changes in digital payments as blockchain technology develops.

Majcen said major international banks had been experimenting with blockchain for years and were increasingly preparing for broader adoption. He suggested that the shift towards digital assets and blockchain-based payments could accelerate as these technologies become more widely used.

Brooks Entwistle, Head of International and Member of the Executive Committee at iCapital, said some major financial institutions had already been developing blockchain infrastructure internally despite maintaining a cautious public approach towards cryptocurrencies.

The executives expect the boundaries between traditional finance and digital finance to become less distinct as tokenisation expands.

Abu Dhabi Attracts Digital Asset Companies

Abu Dhabi's regulatory environment is becoming an important factor in attracting digital asset businesses and supporting their international expansion.

Majcen said the emirate's financial centre could serve as a base for Bitcoin Suisse to reach clients and markets across Asia and Africa, supported by regulatory clarity and a growing financial ecosystem.

Hong said Hashed's presence at Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) helps connect Asian investors and technology founders with opportunities in the UAE and the wider Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region.

He added that the company was introducing partners from South Korea and Japan to Abu Dhabi's business ecosystem, including Hub71.

Demand for Alternative Investments Continues to Grow

The forum also highlighted growing investor interest in alternative investments across the region.

Entwistle said investors were becoming increasingly sophisticated, with demand extending beyond private equity to private credit, hedge funds and venture capital.

He added that iCapital was developing Sharia-compliant alternative investment strategies to meet regional demand.

Tokenisation could make alternative investments easier to access and transfer as digital wallets and blockchain-based infrastructure become more widely adopted.

Convergence of AI, Digital Assets and Traditional Finance

The executives said the convergence of AI, digital assets and traditional finance could create new opportunities for financial institutions, technology companies and investors.

AI agents could increase demand for automated payment systems, while stablecoins and blockchain infrastructure may help facilitate transactions between digital systems across borders.

However, the pace of adoption will depend on technological progress, regulatory developments and market readiness.

If these trends continue, 2027 could mark an important stage in the development of AI-powered financial transactions and the wider use of stablecoins in the digital economy.