CZ: AI & Blockchain Will Power Future Financial Infrastructure
Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, also known as CZ, in a Binance Online livestream that was held today, May 13, 2026, stated that the gap between Web3 and traditional finance will slowly and gradually disappear with time. According to him, blockchain should not be seen as a separate world from finance, but should be seen as a foundational technology that can support financial services in the same way e-commerce supports modern business.
During the livestream, the founder compared blockchain to the hidden engine behind digital commerce. In his view, users do not always think about the technology that is behind a service, but they still rely on it every day. He even suggested that blockchain could play a similar role in finance, where it becomes a universal infrastructure rather than a niche crypto tool.
The founder then added that this shift had already started and market demand for blockchain-based solutions continued to grow and more financial activities are beginning to move toward on-chain systems. His comments reflect a broader industry trend in which crypto, payments and traditional finance are slowly starting to overlap.
CZ on AI, Robots and “Shovel” Investments
CZ in the livestream then shared his thoughts on AI and where he would rather invest his money. Instead of investing directly in AI apps, he prefers to invest in the basic infrastructure that supports AI growth.
This includes things such as data centers, power supplies, and computer hardware. His idea is similar to the old saying that during a gold rush, selling shovels can sometimes be safer than searching for gold itself. So basically, CZ believes companies building the tools for AI may offer more stable opportunities than investing in every new AI app.
He mentioned that NVIDIA currently leads the AI chip market, but he expects more specialized technology to come up as AI continues to grow and flourish. CZ is also keeping his eyes on the robotics sector, as he believes that this sector could also be benefited from advances in the AI sector.
CZ Says YZi Labs Stays Focused on Crypto
While the panel was discussing investment strategies, CZ said AI will likely speed up the progress in biotechnology, but YZi Labs does not plan on making a large investment within that sector. He said around 70-80% of the firm’s investments are still focused on cryptocurrency and blockchain-related projects.
For CZ, blockchain seems to be the main area of opportunity, while AI is more of a complementary technology with important infrastructure needs.
CZ Says AI Agents Could Use Crypto Payments
In a separate comment, the founder also said that AI agents could become way more important users of crypto payments. He explained that AI and crypto work very well together, especially for automated transactions.
Instead of humans handling every step, AI agents could directly use wallets, trading platforms and payment systems. For example, someone could ask an AI agent to convert part of their stablecoins into BNB, and the agent could complete the process automatically.
This could create a future where crypto is used not just by people, but also by autonomous software, expanding digital assets which are beyond trading.
Why This Matters?
CZ’s comments show that the blockchain may become a normal part of the future of finance, not just a technology for crypto. He believes AI could also increase the use of crypto payments, especially if AI agents start managing transactions for people.
For investors and everyday users, this means the future may not be crypto replacing traditional finance. Instead, both systems could slowly work together, with blockchain acting as the behind-the-scenes technology supporting payments, trading and financial services.
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