TLDR;
- OKX sees decentralized finance moving on-chain, enabling billions to control assets directly.
- AI will accelerate blockchain development and create autonomous agents for economic activity.
- Access to tokenized assets will empower AI to tailor financial portfolios and unlock new wealth.
- By 2027, blockchain could handle 10% of global GDP, revolutionizing asset management and verification.
The fusion of decentralized applications and artificial intelligence is poised to reshape the future of wealth generation, according to a recent report by OKX, a leading cryptocurrency exchange.
Blockchain to Put Finance On-Chain
OKX CEO Star Xu highlighted the transformational power of blockchain in finance by envisioning a future where “most financial applications will move to on-chain.” Xu emphasized that billions of people worldwide will gain the freedom to conduct transactions and retain full control over their assets without intermediaries.
This shift, he argues, will mark “the biggest contribution of cryptocurrencies to the development of the world.” Indeed, the widespread adoption of decentralized applications, or dApps, forms the backbone of this evolving financial ecosystem, allowing users direct access to services and products secured by blockchain.
AI and Blockchain: A Powerful Synergy
The report, co-produced with Blockworks Research, explores the increasing synergy between artificial intelligence and blockchain. AI-driven neural networks will streamline blockchain programming and error detection, while cryptocurrencies will incentivize the development and deployment of advanced AI models like large language models (LLMs). This partnership is expected to accelerate the rollout of blockchain solutions significantly.
One of the most exciting prospects is the emergence of autonomous AI agents capable of independently executing economic transactions using cryptocurrencies. Last month, Avery Ching, CEO of Aptos Labs, underscored the importance of granting AI agents access to blockchain assets, including cryptocurrencies, tokens, and tokenized real estate.
“There is no reason why we shouldn’t have on-chain real estate, stocks, bonds, treasuries, money market funds, pre-paid IPOs. All these things have to move online over time.”Ching said.
This integration will empower AI to create personalized financial portfolios aligned with individual user goals, opening doors to innovative financial products and lending opportunities.
Institutional Adoption and Tokenization Surge
Google’s Rich Widmann, head of We3 strategy, further emphasized AI’s role by pointing out its capacity to analyze vast amounts of unstructured blockchain data. He explained that AI can generate “advanced search products by providing contextual information about transactions and smart contracts,” enhancing transparency and usability in decentralized finance.
Institutional interest in blockchain is growing steadily, with approximately two-thirds of financial firms either developing or planning tokenized instruments, according to the OKX report. Tokenization promises to unlock trillions of dollars currently tied up in illiquid assets, transforming traditional finance. In retail, blockchain applications will streamline supply chains and speed up verification processes, ensuring product authenticity through digital certificates stored on distributed ledgers. By 2027, the report forecasts that around 10% of the world’s GDP will be managed and transferred via blockchain.
Expanding Global Access
Notably, Avery Ching also sees blockchain as a vital tool against misinformation propagated by AI. By storing hashed versions of data on immutable ledgers, the authenticity and timing of information can be verified, preventing falsified content from gaining traction.
While the idea of tokenized shares and assets has taken root globally, Ching predicts adoption will begin outside the US, where access to such securities remains limited. This international momentum aligns with industry voices like Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, who, in April, urged the creation of tokenized AI agents with tangible “real world applicability,” criticizing many existing efforts as “useless.”
The convergence of decentralized apps and artificial intelligence is not just a technological evolution but a fundamental change in how wealth is created and managed. With blockchain providing secure, transparent infrastructure and AI offering powerful analytical and operational capabilities, the future financial landscape promises to be more accessible, efficient, and innovative than ever before.
