a16z's latest annual cryptocurrency forecast report indicates that by 2026, blockchain, AI agents, and the global payment system will undergo profound transformations. The report focuses on three key trends: the rise of AI agents, the integration of payments into the underlying network, and the full emergence of the privacy blockchain era, all of which will reshape the financial infrastructure of the internet.

First, a16z believes the most disruptive force will come from the explosive growth of autonomous AI agents. In future financial markets, the number of AI agents will far outnumber human participants, but currently they still lack identity verification, permissions, and compliance frameworks. a16z expects the first "KYA (Know Your Agent)" standard to emerge by 2026, binding identities, responsibilities, and rules to agents, enabling them to securely transact on-chain and truly become market participants equipped with programmable economic behaviors.