Traditional payment networks, built for human-scale commerce, may struggle to accommodate the immense transaction volumes projected for autonomous AI agents, according to an analysis by Franklin Templeton. The asset manager suggests that the transactional demands of agentic AI could become a significant catalyst for the adoption of blockchain technology.
Agentic AI refers to software that can act, make decisions, and execute payments autonomously on behalf of users without constant step-by-step human oversight. This capability differentiates it from current chatbots, marking a shift towards AI systems that can perceive their environment, devise plans, and carry out multi-step tasks independently. Franklin Templeton manages nearly $1.8 trillion in assets, lending weight to its analysis.
The Transactional Bottleneck
The core argument presented is that the sheer volume of transactions generated by agentic AI—whether for purchasing data, cloud compute, or booking services—will far exceed the capacity of existing financial infrastructure. Traditional payment networks like Visa, while capable of processing between 1,700 and 10,000 transactions per second in normal operations, primarily record transactions, with final settlement taking one to three business days. In contrast, newer blockchain networks can record and settle transactions simultaneously within their operational speeds. For instance, Aptos can handle up to 12,933 transactions per second, Solana up to 6,284, and BNB Chain up to 3,252.
Blockchain as a Potential Infrastructure
This transactional capacity is seen as crucial for agentic AI. Franklin Templeton posits that these autonomous agents will likely utilize crypto rails for their transactions rather than traditional financial systems. The analysis suggests that the growth of agentic AI could become the ‘killer’ use case driving broader blockchain adoption.
Several initiatives are already emerging in this space. Coinbase has introduced tools enabling AI agents to trade and pay autonomously. Google, backed by the Ethereum Foundation, unveiled a payment protocol for agents slated for 2025. Furthermore, the x402 Foundation, including participants like Visa, Mastercard, and AWS, formally launched on July 14 to develop open payment rails for AI, utilizing an HTTP status code from 1991 for direct software-to-software payments.
Projected Impact and Lingering Questions
Projections indicate a substantial impact on commerce. AI agents are expected to account for 15% to 25% of all U.S. e-commerce sales by 2030. Agentic commerce, encompassing AI systems transacting autonomously, is projected to reach between $3 trillion and $5 trillion by 2030, according to reports cited by Franklin Templeton.
However, uncertainties remain. The exact timeline for widespread agentic AI adoption and its reliance on blockchain is unclear. It is also uncertain which specific cryptocurrencies will benefit most from this trend. The extent to which traditional financial systems will adapt or be supplanted by blockchain for AI transactions is another open question.
Despite these uncertainties, the analysis from Franklin Templeton highlights a potential future where the operational demands of advanced AI could significantly reshape the landscape of digital transactions and drive further integration of blockchain technology into the global financial infrastructure.
Why This Matters
The materials describe a narrow update: Franklin Templeton published a paper arguing that agentic AI, which acts autonomously on behalf of users, will rely on blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies for its transactions rather than traditional financial systems. The exact timeline for widespread adoption of agentic AI and its reliance on blockchain.
Broader Context
Source materials place the market analysis in this context: Sandy Kaul, Head of Digital Assets and Innovation at Franklin Templeton, published a paper.
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