Metaplanet CEO Warns of AI Impact on Employment: Machine Economy May Shift Toward Bitcoin as Core Store of Value

February 24 News, Metaplanet CEO Simon Gerovich recently stated that as AI-driven productivity rapidly advances, the global economy is gradually entering an “agent-to-agent trading” era, and Bitcoin may become a primary store of value within this system. This view stems from his response to a forward-looking study by Citrini Research, which outlines the potential for AI to replace white-collar jobs on a large scale between 2026 and 2027.

Simon Gerovich pointed out that AI agents making financial decisions will not rely on traditional bank accounts, credit card networks, or government-issued currencies, but will prioritize more efficient, frictionless digital asset systems. Under the logic of machine-optimized transaction costs, on-chain payments, stablecoin settlements, and Bitcoin as a store of value better meet the needs of an automated economy. Compared to the 2% to 3% fee structure of traditional payment networks, low-cost blockchain settlements are more attractive.

Currently, Metaplanet is among the leading publicly listed companies in terms of Bitcoin reserves, reinforcing its strategic bet on Bitcoin’s long-term value. Simon Gerovich believes that when AI begins to independently create and manage value, its capital allocation will not be influenced by brand preferences or human habits, but will be based on attributes like anti-inflation properties, verifiable scarcity, and decentralized security models.

The Citrini Research report further predicts that by the end of 2026 to 2027, the efficiency revolution driven by AI could push unemployment rates to around 10.2%, creating a phenomenon called “ghost GDP,” where productivity increases but human consumption declines. The report notes that large-scale automation may weaken reliance on human labor, customer service software, and office expenses, thereby changing traditional business revenue structures.

On a macro level, if rising unemployment coincides with increased fiscal pressure, money supply expansion and inflation expectations could intensify. In this context, digital assets with anti-dilution properties may be re-priced. Simon Gerovich emphasized that AI agents possess forward-looking optimization capabilities and are theoretically more inclined to hold assets that are not eroded by inflation or easily frozen, and Bitcoin fits this store-of-value logic. As the AI economic model gradually takes shape, Bitcoin’s role in the future digital financial system may be further strengthened.