1) AI Agents — The biggest change
According to a16z, the biggest revolution will come from AI agents.
Today, there are almost 100 times more AI agents than humans in financial services.
But they have no identification, permits, or a system to operate legally.
Therefore, for the first time in 2026, the KYA (Know Your Agent) system will be introduced.
What will KYA do?
Will link the identity of the AI Agent to the owner
Will specify its permissions, limitations, and responsibilities
Will give it the ability to transact legally
Without KYA, AI agents are 'Ghosts' — meaning they cannot transact safely in the market.
After KYA, AI agents:
Will be able to spend, trade, and make payments automatically
Will become market participants in real-time
2) Payments will disappear within the internet
Another major prediction is that payments will cease to be visible.
Why?
Because AI agents:
Will buy data
Will pay for GPU time
Will automatically pay the bills for API calls
This will all be automated, so money must also move at that speed.
New technologies like x402 will transform payments
Without permission
Without a bank
Money will instantly go from one place to another
Payment will no longer be an 'application'...
Rather, will become the internal system of the network — like the plumbing system of the internet.
In this:
Bank
Stablecoin systems
Traditional payment network
Will all go into the background.