# Tom Lee warns AI could sideline humans, says crypto is safeguard

**Published:** 2026-08-05T15:44:54.627Z  
**Topic:** Crypto Lending  
**Sentiment:** neutral  
**Publisher:** TrendWatcher — https://www.trendwatcher.in/article/6ce707fa-0489-4beb-a419-6bd4d727cf7c

Tom Lee warns AI agents may cut humans out of the economy and argues crypto’s programmable money is the only safety net, citing $500 M in agent transactions.

Tom Lee, Fundstrat’s head of research, told a webinar that autonomous AI agents could eventually “close humans entirely” from economic activity, positioning blockchain‑based crypto as the only mechanism to keep people in the loop【1】.  

| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Catalyst | Tom Lee’s AI‑risk webinar claim |
| Agent‑to‑agent value processed | ~$500 million since launch (Virtuals Protocol) |
| Agent‑only profit reported | $2.5 million generated without human input |
| Timeline for AI‑driven payments | Expected within five years |

## AI agents and the need for programmable money  
Lee argued that traditional banking functions—trust, proof of funds, lending and tax collection—are built for human counterparties and cannot support AI agents that require “programmable money that acts as code” and sub‑cent‑level micropayments【1】. He likened the upcoming shift to the early adoption of stablecoins and perpetual futures, which were initially dismissed but later embedded in mainstream finance.  

## Virtuals Protocol as a proof point  
During the same webinar, Virtuals Protocol co‑founder Jansen Tang said the platform has already facilitated roughly $500 million in agent‑to‑agent transactions, with autonomous trading teams earning $2.5 million in profit without any human involvement【1】. The protocol provides agents with smart wallets, escrow that releases funds only after verified service delivery, and a reputation system built from on‑chain history.  

## Ethereum as the base layer and market outlook  
Lee singled out Ethereum as the foundational layer for this emerging “agent economy,” noting that stablecoin assets under management continue to grow despite price declines and that tokenized stocks are expanding at an estimated 600 % annual rate【1】. He projected that crypto assets will finish 2026 higher and that 2027 could deliver a strong bull market, positioning the sector as a key macro catalyst even in a broader “crypto winter”【1】.  

## What to watch  
- **Ethereum price levels**: Monitor key support around $1,600 and resistance near $2,000 as the base layer for agent payments.  
- **Virtuals Protocol activity**: Track on‑chain transaction volume for spikes that could signal broader adoption of autonomous agents.  
- **Regulatory signals**: Watch for any official statements on AI‑driven financial activity that could affect the need for a blockchain “kill switch.”  

Lee’s warning underscores a growing debate about how an increasingly autonomous AI economy will interact with human participants. If AI agents can indeed bypass traditional financial intermediaries, the demand for programmable, trustless money could accelerate, making the blockchain’s role in future economic systems a critical question for regulators and investors alike.

## Sources
1. Benzinga — [Tom Lee: AI 'Might Decide to Close Humans Entirely'—And Crypto...](https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/26/07/60856813/tom-lee-ai-might-decide-to-close-humans-entirely-and-crypto-could-be-the-safeguard)
2. Newsnow — [Artificial Intelligence News | Latest AI News - NewsNow » Latest News](https://www.newsnow.co.uk/h/Science/AI?type=ln)
3. Venice — [venice.ai](https://venice.ai/)
4. CoinGecko — [Top World Liberty Financial Portfolio Coins by Market Cap | CoinGecko](https://www.coingecko.com/en/categories/world-liberty-financial-portfolio)
5. Sciencedirect — [sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0161642016000257](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0161642016000257)

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Cite as: TrendWatcher, "Tom Lee warns AI could sideline humans, says crypto is safeguard", https://www.trendwatcher.in/article/6ce707fa-0489-4beb-a419-6bd4d727cf7c