• Bitwise’s Hunter Horsley says AI Is ‘unstoppable freight train’ for crypto, while Haun’s Monica urges caution As artificial intelligence races ahead, some crypto executives believe it could become the force that finally pushes blockchain infrastructure into widespread use. • Others aren’t convinced the leap is so straightforward. • What to know: As artificial intelligence races ahead, some crypto executives believe it could become the force that finally pushes blockchain infrastructure into widespread use. • Others aren’t convinced the leap is so straightforward. • In a recent panel discussion at NEARCON 2026, Bitwise CEO Hunter Horsley described AI as “an unstoppable freight train,” arguing that its pace of development is unlike anything crypto has experienced. • Diogo Monica, general partner at Haun Ventures and co-founder of Anchorage Digital, pushed back on the assumption that agentic commerce automatically requires new rails.

Article Summaries:

  • At a NEARCON 2026 panel, Bitwise CEO Hunter Horsley described artificial intelligence as an “unstoppable freight train,” arguing that AI’s rapid progress could propel public blockchains and crypto assets into mainstream use. Horsley said autonomous agents will likely fund transactions with stablecoins and rely on on‑chain infrastructure for privacy and speed. In contrast, Haun Ventures partner Diogo Monica cautioned that AI may initially use existing payment systems, questioning the need for new crypto‑specific rails. He noted, however, that AI’s digital abundance and crypto’s scarcity, privacy, and verification tools could ultimately complement each other. The debate over crypto’s role in AI‑driven commerce remains open.

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