CZ: Bullish on Tokenization, Payments, and AI for the Future

On January 22, Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) spoke at the World Economic Forum’s Davos panel on “The New Age of Finance,” sharing key takes on the crypto industry’s trajectory. First, he noted Binance’s exchange platform has already outpaced last year’s total volume. For the current crypto space, CZ highlighted two mature segments: exchanges and stablecoins. Looking ahead, he flagged three promising directions: 1. **Tokenization**: Tokenizing assets could help governments solve financial challenges more efficiently, boost the financial system’s operational efficiency, and drive growth in related industries and trading markets. 2. **Payments**: While crypto payments haven’t seen wide adoption yet, a new trend is emerging: traditional payment rails (like Visa and Mastercard) are integrating crypto tech. Here’s how it works: Users pay with their cards, funds are deducted from their accounts, merchants get fiat, and background settlement/bridging happens via stablecoins and blockchain. This model is rolling out now and will keep growing. 3. **AI**: CZ argued an AI agent’s “native currency” should be crypto, and blockchain is the most fitting native tech interface for AI agents today. Current AI isn’t a true agent—it can’t book flights, reserve restaurants, or make direct payments. But once AI gains real agency and transaction capabilities, crypto will be its most natural payment and settlement tool.