Technology Trends

Explores the latest innovations, protocol upgrades, cross-chain solutions, and security mechanisms in the blockchain space. It provides a developer-focused perspective to analyze emerging technological trends and potential breakthroughs.

Rhythm X Zhihu Co-host Web4.0 Theme Event: When AI Agent Takes Over On-Chain Permissions

Most discussions about Web 4.0 miss the point. The real question is not whether it is a marketing trend, but rather: who is gaining control over the underlying permissions of the internet? Historically, each iteration of the web has involved a transfer of authority downward: Web 1.0 was read-only; Web 2.0 allowed users to write but platforms owned the data; Web 3.0 enabled true ownership through on-chain assets and private keys. Web 4.0 continues this trend, but the transfer is not to users—it is to AI Agents. The current infrastructure is human-centric, designed around human limitations like attention span and memory. But AI Agents don’t need intuitive UIs, password resets, or sleep. This creates a core tension: an internet built for humans is now being used by entities without human constraints. Two key shifts are underway: the decline of traditional front-end interfaces (replaced by API-driven machine communication) and the replacement of human-centric identity systems (like passwords) with granular, on-chain permissions. A critical enabler is crypto infrastructure. AI can make rapid decisions but lacks independent payment channels and asset sovereignty. Crypto fills this gap. Platforms like Hyperliquid offer 24/7 markets, ideal for non-stop Agent operation. When Agents control wallets and private keys, they can both decide and execute—forming complete economic entities. The real narrative of Crypto × AI isn’t just buzzword synergy—it’s the convergence of complementary infrastructures. The deeper shift is not which products will succeed, but how the rules of economic systems will change when AI becomes a primary on-chain participant, operating at scale and speed beyond human capability.

marsbit04/01 09:10

Rhythm X Zhihu Co-host Web4.0 Theme Event: When AI Agent Takes Over On-Chain Permissions

marsbit04/01 09:10

AI Agents Are About to Take Market Share from Visa

Artificial intelligence agents are poised to disrupt Visa's business model by bypassing the traditional credit card interchange fee structure. Unlike humans, AI agents are purely rational: they don't accumulate rewards, seek fraud protection, or desire premium cards. Their sole objective is to complete transactions at the lowest cost, fastest speed, and with minimal fees. This shift threatens the 2-3% interchange fees that underpin Visa’s $500 billion valuation, as these fees essentially tax human irrationality—something agents lack. Recent developments, such as the launch of Tempo (a high-volume stablecoin settlement blockchain), the Machine Payment Protocol (enabling autonomous micro-payments), and Visa’s own command-line payment tool for AI, indicate a rapid move toward agent-driven commerce. While current transaction volumes remain small, infrastructure is being built to support machine-to-machine payments that avoid card networks. Major players like Stripe, Mastercard, and Circle are investing heavily in this space. Visa network’s distribution advantage relies on human behavior—consumer trust and merchant acceptance—a cycle that doesn’t apply to agents. They optimize for efficiency, not brand loyalty. Although widespread consumer adoption is still emerging, the infrastructure for agent-commerce is advancing quickly, starting with micro-payments for AI services. The fundamental challenge is that interchange fees are a tax on human psychology, and agents are purely rational actors.

marsbit03/31 11:14

AI Agents Are About to Take Market Share from Visa

marsbit03/31 11:14

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