BlackRock, managing $15 trillion in assets, stated in a new report that artificial intelligence and digital assets are converging, with AI adoption potentially becoming an underappreciated source of crypto demand. The asset manager argues that as AI agents increasingly handle transactions like booking travel or buying data, they will require payment systems that operate 24/7 and can process sub-cent transactions, for which crypto-native blockchain rails are well-suited. Research cited in the report indicates that AI models generally favor stablecoins for everyday payments and Bitcoin for long-term value preservation.