AI agents begin using crypto wallets, accelerating the blurring of boundaries between DeFi and automated finance

BlockBeats reported on June 15 that with the enhancement of "Agentic AI" capabilities, AI systems are shifting from information tools to entities capable of executing economic activities, now able to connect to crypto wallets and participate in on-chain operations. Research indicates that these AI agents could be used in the future to monitor portfolios, initiate trades, pay service fees, and implement DeFi strategies, but most are currently still in a "human-in-the-loop" controlled stage.

Because blockchain operates 24/7, does not require traditional banking identities, and supports programmable execution, it is considered more suitable than traditional financial systems for AI agents to perform micropayments and automatic settlements. However, it also introduces new risks, including prompt injection attacks, erroneous transaction execution, privilege abuse, and smart contract interaction security issues.

The industry is building "agent wallets," using whitelists, spending limits, multi-signature mechanisms, and time-based permissions to restrict the boundaries of AI behavior. Analysis suggests that a "restricted autonomy" model is more likely to emerge, where AI performs tasks within preset rules, rather than having complete autonomous control over funds.

In the long term, AI agents might conduct on-chain transactions directly—such as purchasing data, computing power, or API services—making wallets gradually evolve into machine identities and payment interfaces. However, regulatory framework and responsibility attribution remain key unresolved challenges.