Connect with us
DAPA Banner

Crypto World

AI will benefit crypto, or break it

Published

on

Martin Derka

Disclosure: The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to the author and do not represent the views and opinions of crypto.news’ editorial.

The debate over when AI will arrive on blockchains has been settled. It’s already here. In 2024 alone, bots accounted for around 90% of stablecoin transaction volume. And on networks like Gnosis Chain, AI agents now generate more than half of Safe smart account activity.

Advertisement

Summary

  • Crypto is becoming a machine economy — AI agents already dominate onchain activity, turning blockchains into infrastructure primarily used by autonomous systems rather than humans.
  • AI widens the security arms race — the same tools that optimize capital and yield also enable machine-speed exploits, making human-only defense models obsolete.
  • Crypto must evolve to intelligent, embedded security — sequence-level, AI-native defenses are required so permissionless systems remain resilient, not defenseless, in a DeFAI world.

In short, the onchain economy is rapidly becoming machine-dominated, even as most high-level decisions remain human-driven. This is the era of DeFAI, where the majority of onchain actors are not people, but rather autonomous software systems that observe markets, execute transactions, and adapt their behavior in real time. 

This creates a fundamental tension for crypto. Blockchains were designed as trustless systems, minimizing reliance on human discretion or centralized intermediaries. But they are now being stress-tested as infrastructure for machine-scale activity. The next test for crypto comes down to whether we can upgrade onchain infrastructure to capture the upside of AI while avoiding its potential risks.

Advertisement

Why AI is moving onchain

More AI agents are being deployed on blockchains because they provide a transparent transacting infrastructure internet. In the context of the internet, an AI agent is effectively a brain with hands on a keyboard and mouse. But the internet is fragmented by closed APIs, bespoke integrations, and siloed data environments. For an autonomous system, every new platform requires custom logic, permissions, and integration work, creating friction that compounds at scale.

Blockchain removes these frictions for agentic transacting. They offer highly standardized, composable environments where data, execution, and liquidity are natively interoperable. An agent can reason over the full state of the system, interact with shared standards, and route capital across protocols without negotiating a new interface each time. As more decentralized networks and protocols come online, this standardization also allows agents to more easily overcome liquidity fragmentation by coordinating activity across different online environments in real time.

With the rise of low-cost layer-2 networks like Zircuit and Base, the final barrier of transaction costs is also disappearing. Agents can now afford to make thousands of micro-decisions per day, rebalancing portfolios and routing liquidity with a frequency that would be physically impossible for a human user to achieve.

The speed gap in crypto security

The onchain AI raises an important paradox. The features that make blockchains a powerful environment for AI agents also expand the range of actions those agents can take. The emergence of AI in crypto systems presents something of a double-edged sword. The ability for AI to continuously evaluate thousands of contracts is tremendously useful for things such as yield and capital management, but can also be abused to exploit vulnerabilities.

Advertisement

This shift exposes a widening speed gap in crypto security. In the past, hacking was a specialized skill that required deep technical expertise. It was a contest between a sophisticated hacker and a smart contract auditor. But AI is erasing this skill gap. New tools allow bad actors to be much more efficient, leveraging specialized models to probe contracts for edge cases that human auditors may have missed. Eventually, offensive autonomous agents may easily emerge.

Recent incidents illustrate how this shift is already playing out. Both the Balancer exploit and the Yearn yETH incident relied on non-obvious attack paths that took years to surface despite extensive prior auditing. Although these exploits have not been definitively linked to AI, the novelty and precision of the attack paths suggest the involvement of machine-assisted fault discovery.

More cyberattacks like these will surely come. And once security dynamics shift to machine time, responding with purely human processes becomes wholly insufficient, and intelligent, automated defense becomes a necessity.

Establishing an AI immune system

If AI is going to run the economy, security has to evolve with it. Sequencers, mempools, and fraud proofs assume there is a natural limit to how fast sophisticated strategies can be iterated. But that assumption is no longer valid in a world where machine-speed activity is defended by human reaction times. As a result, security needs to move from a reactive model to a continuous process built into every transaction lifecycle. This is the core thesis behind Sequence Level Security (SLS).

Advertisement

SLS functions as an immune system for the blockchain by embedding security directly into transaction execution. Instead of relying on static rules and manual monitoring to spot an ongoing hack, the network sequencer evaluates transactions in context by simulating their effects, analyzing execution patterns, and assessing whether proposed state transitions resemble known exploit behaviors or anomalous activity. 

For instance, if the system detects a transaction that mimics a known exploit pattern or attempts a malicious state change, it can isolate and block that transaction before it is ever finalized onchain. This shifts security from damage control to prevention, operating at the same speed and scale as automated attackers.

This matters for DeFAI because autonomous agents depend on predictable execution and reliable system behavior. In a world where AI-driven exploits become easier to generate, infrastructure that can proactively contain malicious activity is what allows productive automation to operate safely. In short, sequence-level security creates a stable environment in which beneficial agents can scale without being crowded out by adversarial AI.  

Permissionless should not mean defenseless

DeFAI will bring unprecedented financial efficiency to the onchain economy. It offers a vision of the future where automated agents can manage liquidity more efficiently, route capital more intelligently, and remove friction from financial systems that were never designed for real-time optimization.

Advertisement

But this future is also rife with risk unless we collectively upgrade the infrastructure that underpins it. In an environment where bad actors have access to infinite scale and instant iteration, the only viable defense is infrastructure that is intelligent enough to protect itself. By doing so, we can ensure that the onchain economy remains open to AI innovation without becoming defenseless against it.

Martin Derka

Martin Derka

Advertisement

Dr. Martin Derka is a distinguished figure in the blockchain space, with an extensive background in the development of smart contracts and Ethereum-based platforms. His work is particularly noted for its significant contributions to DeFi, where he has specialized in enhancing security measures and mitigating economic manipulations. As a co-founder of Zircuit, he has been instrumental in advancing the state of scalability and privacy in blockchain technologies. Martin’s leadership in the design and implementation of cutting-edge rollup solutions has positioned him as a key influencer in the Ethereum ecosystem.

Advertisement

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Click to comment

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Leave a Reply

Crypto World

ETH Stretch: Could Tom Lee Build a Better Flywheel Than Saylor?

Published

on

Brian Armstrong's Bold Prediction: AI Agents Will Soon Dominate Global Financial

TLDR:

  • Bitmine holds 4.6 million ETH, with 3 million actively staked and generating around $180 million annually.
  • Ethereum’s 2.8% staking yield cuts the cost gap, meaning Lee needs only 8–9% more to match Saylor’s offer.
  • Bitmine has been acquiring over 60,000 ETH weekly, building a low cost basis ahead of any product launch.
  • Unlike Bitcoin, Ethereum’s native protocol yield subsidizes the dividend structure, making the flywheel self-reinforcing.

ETH Stretch may be the next big institutional product to emerge in the crypto market. Bitmine, led by strategist Tom Lee, currently holds 4.6 million ETH.

That figure represents nearly 4% of Ethereum’s total circulating supply. Of that holding, 3 million ETH is actively staked, generating around $180 million per year in protocol rewards.

Analyst Axel Bitblaze recently argued that Lee has the infrastructure to launch a Stretch-style fixed-yield product on this existing base.

Ethereum Staking Yield Creates a Structural Cost Advantage

Michael Saylor’s Stretch product offers a fixed 11.5% yield, with all proceeds going into Bitcoin. This buying pressure has pushed hundreds of millions into BTC each week.

Many credit this as a key reason Bitcoin held above $69,000. Without this demand, some analysts suggest prices would sit near $50,000.

Advertisement

Tom Lee, however, already runs a yield engine that Saylor does not have. Bitmine’s staked ETH generates about 2.8% annually from Ethereum’s protocol.

That income covers part of any fixed dividend Lee would need to pay out. Lee would only need to generate an additional 8–9% to match Saylor’s offer.

Bitblaze noted on X that this cost structure allows Lee to undercut Stretch on yield expenses. That margin could make the product more attractive to institutional capital.

Wall Street typically responds well to yield products with stronger cost profiles. Staking income is a meaningful competitive edge in this space.

Additionally, Bitmine has been buying over 60,000 ETH per week in current market conditions. The firm’s cost basis remains low, and Ethereum sentiment is broadly negative.

Those two factors create a favorable window for any product announcement. A low cost basis combined with native yield strengthens the overall case considerably.

The Ethereum Flywheel and Its Reflexivity Potential

The mechanics of an ETH Stretch product follow a clear and self-reinforcing loop. Every dollar raised would go toward buying more ETH on the open market.

Advertisement

More ETH purchased means more ETH available for staking. More staked ETH then generates additional protocol rewards to help fund the dividend.

This cycle differs from Saylor’s model in one key respect: Ethereum has native yield. Bitcoin has no protocol income, yet the BTC Stretch flywheel has still gained traction.

Ethereum’s staking rewards subsidize the structure from the start. That makes the feedback loop cheaper to run and easier to grow.

Bitblaze argued that Saylor’s flywheel works despite Bitcoin having no yield. Lee’s version, by contrast, would run on Ethereum’s own protocol income.

Advertisement

That distinction changes the product economics entirely. A yield-backed demand engine does not rely solely on price appreciation. It draws strength directly from the Ethereum protocol itself.

Should Lee announce such a product while sentiment is low, the price response could be rapid. Institutional capital targeting yield would flow in, driving ETH demand higher.

Higher ETH prices improve staking returns in dollar terms, attracting still more capital. That loop, once active, tends to accelerate.

Advertisement

Source link

Continue Reading

Crypto World

Ethereum Price Prediction: ETH Price Could Reach $2,500 as BNB Weakens and Pepeto Shows the Utility Gains That Matter

Published

on

Ethereum Price Prediction: ETH Price Could Reach $2,500 as BNB Weakens and Pepeto Shows the Utility Gains That Matter

BlackRock launched the iShares Staked Ethereum Trust on March 12, and the fund pulled in $254 million in its first week, making it the fastest growing crypto ETF this quarter.

While the ethereum price prediction shows a path toward $2,500, Pepeto is drawing attention with exchange infrastructure already live, more than $8 million raised, and a Binance listing approaching. The wallets entering now are targeting returns the ethereum price prediction needs the full cycle to deliver.

Ethereum Price Prediction Gains Support After BlackRock Staked ETF Pulls $254 Million in One Week

BlackRock launched ETHB on March 12 on Nasdaq, staking 70% to 95% of its Ethereum holdings and paying investors roughly 82% of staking rewards through monthly payouts, according to CoinDesk.

The fund reached $254 million in assets within seven days, according to Decrypt. Goldman Sachs reported over $1 billion in Ethereum ETF holdings, and Larry Fink called blockchain infrastructure necessary at Davos this year.

Advertisement

The ethereum price prediction has institutional money behind it, but from $2,083 the path to $2,500 is a 20% move that takes patience.

Ethereum Price Prediction and the Presale Offering Returns ETH Cannot Match

Pepeto

As rug pulls grow more common, the cost of entering a project without checking its contracts keeps rising. Every cycle, traders lose more capital to scams that grow harder to detect with each new method. Doing your own research takes hours most people do not have, and it still misses the risks buried in smart contract code.

Pepeto was designed to end that problem before your money is at risk. The exchange is already running while the presale fills. The risk scorer examines every contract for hidden traps and scam patterns, giving you a clear answer in seconds instead of hours of digging through code, so you act with confidence instead of guessing.

The cofounder who took the original Pepe coin to $11 billion with nothing is now building an exchange with zero fee trading, cross chain transfers at zero cost through the bridge, and a SolidProof audit completed before the presale opened. A former Binance expert is on the dev team, 195% APY staking compounds in wallets that positioned early, and the presale has crossed more than $8 million with the Binance listing approaching.

Advertisement

At $0.000000186 with the same 420 trillion supply that reached $11 billion under Pepe, matching that market cap is over 150x, and Pepeto has the exchange infrastructure Pepe never built. The wallets filling the presale are taking the entry that disappears the moment trading begins, and the holders who are not inside yet are the ones who will spend this cycle wishing they had moved.

Ethereum Price Prediction: Can ETH Reach $2,500 With BlackRock Leading Institutional Demand?

ETH trades near $2,083 as of March 22, holding above the $2,000 support that formed a floor since mid February, according to CoinMarketCap.

BlackRock’s ETHA holds $6.5 billion and the new staked ETHB already sits at $254 million after one week. Resistance levels form at $2,235 and $2,380, and if both break cleanly the next ethereum price prediction target is $2,500.

Losing $2,000 could trigger a pullback toward $1,800. Even the bullish $2,500 scenario is a 20% move from current prices, a return that requires months of positive conditions and institutional follow through.

Advertisement

BNB

BNB trades near $631 as of March 22, steady despite the broader correction, according to CoinMarketCap. The Binance ecosystem keeps BNB supported, but from $631 the token needs to reclaim $720 before any meaningful run begins.

A 2x requires BNB above $1,200, a level it has never held. Neither the ethereum price prediction nor BNB delivers the distance a presale to exchange listing compresses into the moment trading opens.

Ethereum Price Prediction Points to $2,500 but the Presale Entry Points to Where Wealth Was Built

The ethereum price prediction has BlackRock behind it, the staked ETF is pulling institutional money, and the $2,500 target is realistic. But the smart money wallets filling Pepeto at presale pricing are building positions that expect returns ETH from $2,090 takes years to match.

The crypto news will cover this moment after the Binance listing, and the only question is whether you lock in your position on the Pepeto official website today or pay a higher price later from wallets that moved while you were still reading about ETH.

Advertisement

BlackRock is staking ETH for 3% yield. The wallets inside Pepeto are targeting 150x, decide which return fits this cycle.

Click To Visit Pepeto Website To Enter The Presale

FAQs

What is the ethereum price prediction for today?

The ethereum price prediction targets $2,500 if ETH holds above $2,000 support. Investors seeking faster returns are looking at Pepeto, where matching Pepe’s market cap is over 150x from presale.

Why is Pepeto trending alongside the ethereum price prediction?

Pepeto has become the presale drawing the most capital because it combines a working exchange with the same supply that took Pepe to $11 billion, positioning it for returns ETH cannot match from $2,083.

How does the ethereum price prediction compare with early presales like Pepeto?

The Pepeto official website offers a presale where the Binance listing compresses the return window into days, while the ethereum price prediction from $2,083 to $2,500 is a 20% move requiring months.

Advertisement

Disclaimer: This is a Press Release provided by a third party who is responsible for the content. Please conduct your own research before taking any action based on the content.

Source link

Continue Reading

Crypto World

Iran Warns of Regional Energy Strikes After Trump Threats Over Hormuz Strait

Published

on

Brian Armstrong's Bold Prediction: AI Agents Will Soon Dominate Global Financial

TLDR:

  • Trump issues 48-hour ultimatum demanding Iran reopen the Strait or face power plant strikes.
  • Iran warns of full closure of the Strait and retaliation against regional energy infrastructure.
  • Tanker traffic dropped 90%, increasing concerns over global oil supply and market stability.
  • Iranian officials list potential targets, including Israel and US-linked energy assets.

Iran war live Trump Strait of Hormuz tensions intensified after a 48-hour ultimatum triggered threats of energy infrastructure attacks, raising risks of wider regional escalation and disruption to global oil transit routes.

Trump Issues 48-Hour Ultimatum

The United States has issued a direct warning to Tehran. In his statement, President Donald Trump demanded that Iran fully reopen the Strait within 48 hours. 

He threatened attacks on major Iranian power plants if the demand is ignored. The ultimatum highlighted the strategic significance of the Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant portion of global oil shipments pass. 

Tanker traffic has already fallen by nearly 90% in recent weeks, raising concerns about energy supply disruptions worldwide.

Trump’s statement did not clarify whether nuclear-linked power plants, such as Bushehr, would be included in the strike. This uncertainty added to regional tension, as the potential for collateral damage remains high.

Advertisement

 “If Iran doesn’t FULLY OPEN the Strait, the US will hit major power plants first,” Trump’s statement read, reflecting the firm deadline.

Iran Warns of Retaliation and Regional Impact

Iranian officials outlined a detailed response as spokesperson Ebrahim Zolfaghari confirmed that the Strait remains partially open under controlled access. He however, warned that any strike on power plants would trigger immediate retaliation.

Iran indicated that a full closure of the Strait would follow any attack, with reopening dependent on reconstruction of damaged infrastructure. 

Officials also listed potential regional targets, including power plants in Israel, companies with American shareholders, and energy infrastructure in countries hosting US bases.

Advertisement

Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, further emphasized the scale of potential consequences. He warned that attacks on Iranian infrastructure could lead to the irreversible destruction of energy networks across the Gulf, maintaining elevated oil prices for an extended period.

Previous demonstrations of Iran’s reach, such as the strike on Qatar’s Ras Laffan LNG terminal, showed the country’s capability to disrupt regional energy systems. 

Regional and international actors are monitoring the situation closely, highlighting the strategic and economic stakes.

Iran war live Trump Strait of Hormuz tensions remain critical as the 48-hour deadline approaches, with both sides maintaining firm positions and regional stability at stake.

Advertisement

Source link

Continue Reading

Crypto World

BTC Performance Driven By Individuals While Central Banks Drive Gold Price

Published

on

Gold, Bitcoin Price, Bitcoin ETF

The divergence between gold and Bitcoin (BTC) in 2026 can be explained by two distinct segments of buyers, according to Stephen Coltman, head of macro at crypto exchange-traded product (ETP) provider 21Shares.

Gold’s rally over the last three years has been primarily fueled by central bank buying, while Bitcoin is more widely held by individuals than financial institutions, Coltman told Cointelegraph. He said:

“Physical gold has a greater geopolitical strategic role currently, as the asset of choice for state actors who want to store wealth in a way that is protected from rival powers. This has meant that it has traded with greater sensitivity to deteriorating international relations.”

However, BTC has more utility for individuals who may use it as an alternative “lifeline” when local banking infrastructure fails during times of crisis, and accessing the traditional financial system is not possible. 

Gold, Bitcoin Price, Bitcoin ETF
Gold falls below the 50-day exponential moving average, a key support level. Source: TradingView

“Shortly after the conflict started, both the Dubai and Abu Dhabi exchanges were shut down following missile and drone strikes from Iran,” which, he said, is a “stark reminder” of how valuable 24/7 access is in wartime situations or other emergencies.

Coltman told Cointelegraph that the inverse correlation between BTC and gold means that investors should hold both to benefit from each asset’s unique properties.

Advertisement

Ongoing macroeconomic and geopolitical shocks over the last several years drove gold to an all-time high of nearly $5,600 per ounce in January 2026.

However, heightened volatility dragged the precious metal back down to about $4,497 per ounce, leading to renewed debate among analysts about gold’s role as a store of value asset, and how it will perform against Bitcoin in the coming years.

Related: Bitcoin vs gold shows potential bottom signals as BTC bulls defend $70K

Advertisement

Financial analysts are split on gold versus BTC dominance

Bitcoin is likely to outperform gold over the next three years, according to macroeconomist Lyn Alden.

“It’s usually a pendulum between the two. If gold has gone up as much as it did, the entire diminishing return story per cycle is going to be erased in the coming one, too,” Alden said.

However, former hedge fund manager Ray Dalio expects that BTC will never replace gold as a store-of-value asset because it still trades like a risk-on asset with correlation to technology stocks, while gold is entrenched as a reserve asset in the banking system.

Magazine: Is China hoarding gold so yuan becomes global reserve instead of USD?

Advertisement