Macro investor Jordi Visser buys Ether, says AI agents will drive blockchain demand as tokenization moves mainstream

Macro investor Jordi Visser said he recently bought Ether, arguing that AI agents conducting autonomous transactions cannot use traditional banking infrastructure and will increasingly depend on blockchain-based assets like Ether and stablecoins.

Speaking on Anthony Pompliano’s podcast on Saturday, Visser said he believes too few investors are paying attention to tokenization and the structural demand AI commerce could create for on-chain networks.

According to Visser, Agentic AI Payments are becoming essential because AI agents cannot independently use traditional banking infrastructure such as bank accounts, passwords, or credit systems. Instead, these systems rely on digital assets like Ether and stablecoins to transact autonomously online.

“I don’t think enough people are talking about tokenization and what’s happening,” — Jordi Visser, macro investor and former hedge fund manager.

The comments come as blockchain firms and crypto protocols intensify efforts to integrate Agentic AI Payments into decentralized networks, while transaction volumes tied to autonomous AI commerce continue to rise globally.

Agentic AI Payments drive Ethereum demand

Visser said the emergence of autonomous AI systems is creating a new economic layer where digital tokens act as operational fuel for AI-driven activity. In his view, Agentic AI Payments could significantly increase demand for blockchain infrastructure, particularly Ethereum, which remains the dominant network for tokenized assets.

“AI agents are with us,” — Jordi Visser, macro investor and former hedge fund manager.

“They need food, and that food is not physical food. It is tokens,” he added. “There’s been a shortage,” which could lead to a supply and demand issue.

The investor argued that AI systems conducting autonomous online transactions cannot function efficiently within traditional financial systems that require human authentication or institutional approval. Instead, blockchain-based payment rails provide a more seamless alternative for Agentic AI Payments.

The trend is already showing measurable growth. According to x402.org, autonomous online payments recorded more than $24 million in transaction volume over the past month through the Coinbase x402 standard, highlighting growing adoption of AI-enabled payment systems.

At the same time, blockchain networks are increasingly positioning themselves to capture the emerging Agentic AI Payments market. On Saturday, the Algorand Foundation announced support for agentic commerce through a partnership with Google on the AP2 Agentic Payments Protocol.

Tokenization becomes critical for price discovery

Beyond Agentic AI Payments, Visser linked tokenization to a wider structural shift in global finance. He argued that blockchain technology could unlock liquidity trapped in traditionally illiquid markets such as private equity, private credit, and venture capital.

Ethereum currently dominates the tokenized asset sector, accounting for more than 60% of the market share for tokenized assets, including layer-2 networks, according to RWA.xyz.

Visser said tokenization is increasingly necessary because financial markets are entering a period where transparency and liquidity are becoming more important.

“So tokenization is actually needed for no other reason than price discovery for a lot of these things that they’re trapped in,” — Jordi Visser, macro investor and former hedge fund manager.

He suggested that many dormant assets remain difficult to value or trade efficiently under current market structures. By placing these assets on-chain, investors may gain improved pricing visibility and broader market participation.

The broader tokenization narrative has gained momentum over the past year as financial institutions and blockchain firms explore real-world asset integration. Analysts believe Agentic AI Payments could further accelerate that trend by creating persistent transactional demand for digital assets and decentralized financial infrastructure.

Inflation concerns remain despite crypto optimism

Despite his optimism around Ethereum and Agentic AI Payments, Visser also warned about macroeconomic risks, particularly rising inflation. He said he continues to maintain exposure to traditional safe-haven assets such as gold and silver while also holding Bitcoin as a hedge against economic uncertainty.

The comments reflect a growing view among investors that digital assets may play a dual role in future markets serving both as speculative investments and as infrastructure powering autonomous economic systems.

As adoption of Agentic AI Payments expands, industry observers are increasingly watching whether Ethereum and other blockchain networks can scale fast enough to support AI-driven commerce at a global level.