Crypto has spent years being compared with high-growth technology sectors, but a Wall Street veteran believes digital assets may soon have a more compelling opportunity than many artificial intelligence stocks. Jordi Visser, a former executive at Morgan Stanley and Weiss, argues that the rise of AI agents could create a new and powerful source of demand for cryptocurrencies.
Visser’s view reflects a broader shift in how investors are thinking about the relationship between artificial intelligence and blockchain technology. Rather than treating the two industries as competing trends, he sees them as increasingly connected. AI agents may require digital payment systems, programmable money, decentralized infrastructure and verifiable ownership—all areas where crypto networks could play an important role.
Why AI Agents Could Benefit Crypto
AI agents are designed to perform tasks with limited human intervention. Depending on how the technology develops, an agent could research information, negotiate services, purchase digital resources, manage software tools or coordinate with other agents. These activities may eventually require autonomous transactions between people, companies, software applications and machines.
Traditional financial systems are not always well suited to these use cases. Bank transfers can be slow, geographically restricted and dependent on intermediaries. Crypto networks, by contrast, can operate continuously and allow programmable transactions across borders. A digital agent could potentially hold funds, make payments and interact with decentralized applications without needing a conventional bank account for every transaction.
This does not mean every AI application will automatically use cryptocurrency. However, the growing need for machine-to-machine payments and digital ownership could provide blockchain networks with practical demand beyond speculation. Visser’s thesis is that this utility may become increasingly important as AI agents move from experimental tools into everyday business and consumer services.
Visser Expands Beyond Bitcoin, Ether and Solana
Visser has reportedly held established digital assets such as Bitcoin, Ether and Solana. These networks represent different parts of the crypto ecosystem: Bitcoin is widely viewed as a scarce digital asset and store-of-value alternative, Ethereum supports smart contracts and decentralized applications, while Solana has focused on speed and lower-cost transaction processing.
His decision to expand his holdings beyond these major assets signals an interest in the infrastructure and applications that could benefit from the next phase of crypto adoption. Investors are increasingly examining projects connected to decentralized computing, data networks, tokenized assets, artificial intelligence and automated payments.
Smaller projects can offer greater growth potential, but they also carry substantially higher risks. They may face limited liquidity, changing regulations, technical vulnerabilities, intense competition and uncertain business models. A project can be associated with an important trend without necessarily becoming a successful investment. For that reason, exposure to emerging crypto assets requires careful research rather than simply following market narratives.
Could Crypto Really Outperform AI Stocks?
The comparison between crypto and AI stocks is complicated because the two markets have different risk profiles. Leading AI companies often have established revenues, large customer bases and substantial cash reserves. Their valuations may be high, but investors can typically assess them using earnings, sales and other traditional financial measures.
Crypto assets are generally more volatile. Prices can rise sharply during periods of enthusiasm and fall just as quickly when liquidity declines or sentiment changes. Nevertheless, the upside can be greater if a network achieves widespread adoption. A successful blockchain may support an entire ecosystem of applications, users and transactions, allowing the value of its native asset to benefit from network growth.
AI stocks, meanwhile, could continue to perform well as companies invest heavily in computing power, software and automation. The two themes may even reinforce each other. AI companies could provide the tools that make autonomous agents possible, while blockchain networks could supply the payment rails and ownership systems those agents need.
What Investors Should Watch
Several developments will determine whether Visser’s outlook gains traction:
- Real-world AI agent adoption: The technology must move beyond demonstrations and deliver measurable value in business and consumer applications.
- Machine-to-machine payments: Developers will need efficient, secure ways for autonomous systems to send and receive money.
- Network scalability: Blockchains must handle large transaction volumes without excessive costs or delays.
- Regulatory clarity: Rules surrounding digital assets, stablecoins and automated financial activity could significantly influence adoption.
- Security and reliability: Smart contracts and AI systems must be protected against fraud, manipulation and technical failure.
A Promising Thesis With Significant Uncertainty
Visser’s argument is not simply that crypto will replace AI stocks. Instead, it suggests that investors may be underestimating the way artificial intelligence could expand the use cases for blockchain technology. If autonomous agents become common, digital assets may provide the infrastructure needed for fast, programmable and borderless transactions.
Still, the outcome is far from guaranteed. Crypto markets remain highly speculative, and technological progress does not always translate into investment returns. Investors should evaluate individual projects, understand their risks and avoid concentrating their portfolios around a single theme.
The connection between AI and crypto is likely to remain one of the most closely watched trends in financial markets. Whether digital assets ultimately outperform AI stocks will depend on adoption, execution and regulation—but the emergence of autonomous agents gives the crypto industry a fresh argument for its long-term relevance.
Related read: Bitcoin Miners Are Building a New Market for AI Computing Power
