AI agents are rapidly transforming digital wallets into intent-driven interfaces, allowing traders to interact with blockchain networks using natural language rather than manual commands. Early trials tied to 2026 World Cup prediction markets show how this shift is already enabling users to turn casual queries into executed on-chain transactions.
Ai agents move wallets beyond basic transactions
In testing by imToken, AI-powered agents allowed users to access prediction markets directly from web pages and chat platforms instead of relying solely on dedicated apps. These agents interpreted user prompts, such as questions about match outcomes or odds, and translated them into blockchain transactions, expanding how wallets function beyond simple asset storage.
This evolution points to a broader transition: wallets are becoming active systems capable of automating on-chain actions while still requiring user-defined oversight. The next stage of development focuses on ensuring transparency around permissions, spending limits, and execution timeframes granted to these agents.
Payment giants explore similar models
Traditional payment networks are moving in a similar direction. Mastercard introduced its “Agent Pay for Machines” framework, which allows verified AI systems to initiate payments within predefined user authorizations. The model addresses how AI agents are identified, validated, and monitored across payment systems.
WeChat Pay has also begun testing an “AI exclusive card” through its WorkBuddy service. The system restricts automated payments using safeguards such as spending caps, password verification, and transaction scope limits. While centralized, these efforts highlight the growing need for structured controls around AI-driven financial activity.
Blockchain systems face higher stakes
For blockchain-based applications, the risks are more pronounced due to the irreversible nature of transactions. Controls must be embedded at the protocol level, including private key management and smart contract permissions. While AI agents streamline participation in decentralized markets, they also increase the need for clear authorization checkpoints before execution.
Future wallet designs are expected to combine natural language inputs with clear transaction summaries, outlining spending caps, contract access, expiration settings, and cancellation options. The goal is to improve usability without weakening security as automation scales.
Machine-led transactions gain traction
The shift toward automated blockchain activity is already measurable. A Chainalysis report shows that AI agents executed more than 100 million stablecoin payments on Coinbase’s Base network by early 2026, signaling a move from experimentation to significant on-chain volume.
At the same time, risks are escalating. OpenZeppelin co-founder Manuel Aráoz warned that AI agents can now identify smart contract vulnerabilities faster than human auditors. This creates an imbalance where defenders must secure every weakness, while an attacking agent needs to exploit only one.
Security and control become central
New tools aim to address these challenges. Alchemy and Visa’s AgentCard platform gives AI agents a full operational identity, combining a tokenized Visa card with a crypto wallet. Users retain control through adjustable spending limits and merchant restrictions applied in real time.
The rise of programmable wallets is reflected in market data. By the first quarter of 2026, decentralized finance protocols held between $130 billion and $140 billion in total value, with more than $850 billion settled through smart contracts.
Wallets evolve into active gateways
These developments are shifting responsibility toward traders to monitor not just their holdings but also the automated systems acting on their behalf. Unlike traditional finance, where errors can sometimes be reversed, blockchain transactions executed by misconfigured AI agents are permanent.
World Cup prediction market trials illustrate how event-driven use cases can introduce broader audiences to blockchain when combined with AI. As the technology matures, wallets are transitioning from passive tools into active gateways, balancing automation efficiency with transparent and user-controlled safeguards.
Explore how AI transforms blockchain trading with secure automation in Toobit’s AI copy trading guide for smarter wallet strategies.
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