26th June 2026
By Anjali Kochhar
Yat Siu Sees 200 Billion AI Agents Driving Demand for Blockchain Infrastructure
Singapore – Asia is poised to become the global leader in the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain technology, according to Yat Siu, co-founder and executive chairman of Animoca Brands.
Speaking at the SuperAI Summit held in Singapore on June 10-11, Siu said the region’s openness to financial innovation and emerging technologies gives it a significant advantage over Western markets in adopting the next wave of digital transformation.
Siu highlighted what he believes will be a major shift in the global economy: the rise of autonomous AI agents capable of conducting transactions, negotiating agreements, and managing digital assets without human intervention. He projected that the future could see as many as 200 billion AI agents operating independently across digital ecosystems.
“These agents will need a secure and transparent infrastructure to transact and interact,” Siu explained, emphasizing that blockchain technology is uniquely positioned to provide the trust, ownership, and verification mechanisms required for AI-driven economies.
According to Siu, blockchain will serve as the foundational layer for these autonomous systems, enabling AI agents to execute financial contracts, manage assets, and participate in digital commerce in a decentralized manner.
Animoca Brands Backs Vision With $10 Million Agentic AI and Blockchain Fund
Animoca Brands is backing this vision with capital. In early June, the company launched a $10 million fund dedicated to supporting early-stage startups developing agentic AI technologies and blockchain-based infrastructure. The initiative aims to accelerate innovation at the intersection of the two rapidly evolving sectors.
Founded in 2014 as a mobile gaming company, Animoca Brands shifted its focus toward blockchain technology, gaming, and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) in 2018. Since then, the company has invested in more than 600 projects across blockchain, Web3, and AI-related industries.
Asia’s Regulatory Openness and Key Hubs Positioning the Region for Leadership
Siu attributed Asia’s potential leadership in the sector to cultural and regulatory factors. He argued that financial innovation in many Asian markets faces less political resistance compared to some Western countries, where cryptocurrencies and digital assets continue to encounter regulatory uncertainty.
Countries and regions such as Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, and South Korea have established themselves as key hubs for digital asset innovation, supported by growing investor participation and evolving regulatory frameworks.
For investors, Animoca Brands’ latest fund may offer insight into future market trends. Industry observers often view strategic investments by established technology firms as indicators of where institutional capital could flow in the coming years.
As AI and blockchain technologies continue to mature, Siu believes Asia is well positioned to play a central role in shaping the next generation of the digital economy.
