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The Convergence of AI and Blockchain (05/28/2026)
Dan Morehead, Cosmo Jiang
AI AND BLOCKCHAIN
Cosmo Jiang, General Partner
In recent years, artificial intelligence has evolved from a promising technology to a foundational layer of modern business. Investors are rightly focused on its implications. However, AI is only half the story. Blockchain, in the past few years, has matured beyond cryptocurrencies, serving as infrastructure for coordinating trust, ownership, and incentives across decentralized systems. As blockchain-focused investors, we believe blockchain will be central to AI's growth. The limited attention given to the interplay between these two technologies is a notable oversight.
The intersection of blockchain and artificial intelligence is becoming a significant area of innovation as entrepreneurs start building systems that combine the strengths of both. We see numerous compelling ways that blockchain can uniquely enable AI development, and that AI will also accelerate economic activity on blockchain networks.
This convergence has become a major research focus for our team, with an increasing share of our time and investment dollars dedicated to opportunities emerging at this intersection.
Every Major Innovation Wave Has Been a Convergence
Periods of technological acceleration often occur when two powerful systems begin reinforcing each other. Examples include:
- Steam power and railroads enabling national industrial economies and businesses like Union Pacific Railroad and Standard Oil.
- Electricity and modern manufacturing driving the rise of industrial giants like General Electric and urban infrastructure like the NY Subway system.
- Mass automobiles necessitating highway infrastructure, leading to the emergence of national chains like Walmart and McDonald’s.
- The internet accelerating with smartphones, fostering global tech giants like Uber.
In each case, the largest and most enduring companies were not always the original technology developers but those that built on top of the new infrastructure.
We believe a similar dynamic is about to emerge between AI, the new capability, and blockchain, an enabling infrastructure. While each can advance independently, their combined impact may be greater than either in isolation.
Foundation for the Next Convergence – AI and Blockchain
The foundational ingredients are in place for AI and blockchain to converge:
- Talent: Both blockchain (cryptography) and AI (statistics) share roots, indicating a high degree of overlap in skilled professionals.