Franklin Templeton calls agentic AI next ‘killer’ use case for blockchain
Summary
AI agents are emerging as a major use case for blockchain and crypto because they need infrastructure for machine-to-machine micropayments. Legacy card networks are seen as too slow and expensive for agentic payments, while blockchains can settle in seconds with lower fees. Networks like Aptos, Solana, and BNB Chain are highlighted as better suited for this economy than Visa’s 1–3 business-day settlement. Visa and Artemis also argued that AI agents require near-zero-fee, fast-payment systems to be commercially viable. Adoption is already appearing: Coinbase’s x402 payment protocol has processed $15 million in adjusted volume across more than 109 million transactions since launching in May 2025.
