Blockchain Evolution Finance Infrastructure to AI Agents

Sky Wee, founding partner of Sky Ventures and partner of ATF Capital, explores blockchain's transformative journey.

(Image: Getty)

Initially dismissed as a novelty in 2009, blockchain technology has grown into a projected $390+ billion market by 2030 (MarketsandMarkets), attracting attention from central banks and corporations worldwide.

Key Evolutionary Stages:

1. DeFi: The Financial Revolution

• Decentralized finance protocols created parallel financial systems without traditional intermediaries
• Sector hit $153 billion in total value locked in July 2025 (CoinDesk)
• Mature platforms now integrate with established protocols like Aave and Compound
• Analytics platforms like CryptoRank provide crucial market transparency

2. DePIN: Decentralizing Physical Infrastructure

• Blockchain extends to coordinating real-world resources (bandwidth, energy, storage)
• Shifts infrastructure control from corporations to decentralized networks (CoinTelegraph)

3. AI Agents: The Next Frontier

• Autonomous AI agents can make decisions and transact on blockchain networks
• Combines AI intelligence with blockchain's decentralized execution (CoinTelegraph)
• Potential for self-sustaining systems without constant human oversight

Business Implications

• Blockchain now affects multiple industries beyond finance
• Key challenges: balancing innovation with security, compliance and usability
• Future leadership will require building both novel systems and user trust

The technology that began with digital payments may ultimately find its greatest impact in infrastructure coordination and intelligent agent systems, potentially transforming how we interact with digital and physical environments.