Ethereum Co-Founder Sees AI and Finance Driving Adoption

TLDR

• Ethereum co-founder Joe Lubin said institutions and AI agents could drive the network’s next growth phase.
• Lubin argued that regulatory clarity is encouraging banks and asset managers to build on blockchain infrastructure.
• He identified tokenization as a key factor bringing traditional financial assets onto blockchain networks.
• Lubin expects AI agents to increase on-chain activity through automated transactions and smart contract interactions.
• He said near-instant settlement makes blockchain networks attractive to both institutions and autonomous software agents.

Ethereum co-founder Joe Lubin said the network is entering a new phase of adoption driven by institutions and AI agents. He made the comments during an interview with Cointelegraph’s Robert Baggs. Lubin argued that both groups are beginning to use blockchain infrastructure at the same time, creating new sources of network demand.

Ethereum Adoption Moves Beyond Crypto-Native Users

Lubin said regulatory clarity has encouraged more institutions to build on public blockchain networks. He stated that banks, asset managers, and infrastructure providers are moving beyond pilot programs. They are now developing settlement systems, institutional wallets, and tokenized asset platforms.

He argued that institutions seek operational improvements rather than speculative opportunities. According to Lubin, blockchain networks provide continuous market access and faster settlement. They also support liquidity outside traditional trading hours and enable easier global asset transfers.

Lubin said blockchain technology competes with outdated financial infrastructure rather than financial institutions themselves. He explained that existing systems still rely on processes that create delays and added costs. In contrast, blockchain networks can streamline transactions and settlement.

He pointed to tokenization as a key mechanism supporting institutional adoption. Lubin argued that more traditional assets will move on-chain over time. As a result, the distinction between decentralized finance and traditional finance could narrow.

His comments align with growing interest in tokenized real-world assets. These assets include treasuries, investment funds, and equities. Institutions continue to explore blockchain-based settlement and issuance models.

A survey by EY-Parthenon and Coinbase showed growing institutional interest in tokenized assets. Among interested investors, 11% already held tokenized assets. Another 61% expected to invest in the sector.

AI Agents Emerge as a New Source of Blockchain Activity

Lubin also highlighted AI agents as a separate source of future blockchain demand. He expects agentic activity to expand by the end of 2026. These agents could execute transactions and interact with smart contracts without direct human involvement.

He described a future economy where humans and machines operate together on blockchain networks. Under that model, AI agents could manage portfolios and process micropayments. They could also execute trades and perform automated financial tasks.

Lubin argued that machine-to-machine transactions require reliable settlement infrastructure. He said decentralized networks provide transparency and verification for those activities. As a result, blockchain systems could support growing agent-based commerce.

He connected institutional adoption and AI activity through the concept of settlement. Lubin said financial markets increasingly operate around the clock. Therefore, faster transaction finality becomes more valuable for both institutions and software agents.

During the interview, Lubin described crypto’s development as a long infrastructure-building period. He said the sector has passed through stages of “gestation, infancy, childhood, and early adolescence.” According to Lubin, broader adoption is only beginning to emerge.

He argued that earlier market cycles relied mainly on crypto-native participants. Future growth, however, could come from institutions, tokenized assets, AI agents, and mainstream applications. Lubin said those users represent the audience blockchain networks were built to serve.

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