SBF: The biggest issue facing cryptocurrency is whether AI will adopt it as a payment method

On February 27, FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF) posted on social media, noting that one of the biggest challenges facing cryptocurrency is whether artificial intelligence (AI) will adopt it. He posed a key question: If a ChatGPT or Claude instance needs additional computing power, will it pay via bank transfer, credit card, or cryptocurrency? The traditional financial system has a natural barrier for AI payments: AI lacks a passport, address, Social Security number, or even a name, so it cannot complete the KYC (Know Your Customer) process. By contrast, cryptocurrency is inherently digital and permissionless—AI can directly access the blockchain, making it a more suitable payment method for AI. Another possibility is the "agency model," where each AI is treated as a human agent: the human completes KYC and is liable for the AI’s actions. This model also raises legal challenges, namely who is responsible for the AI’s conduct. Either way, integrating AI with transaction and payment systems will require significant work—either building on a native digital/cryptocurrency foundation or relying on human "owners" to manage the AI’s financial activities. Whichever path is taken, connecting AI to transactions and payments will demand effort, and this development direction has major global implications—including for the future of cryptocurrency.