Vitalik Buterin recently spoke about the necessary changes in Ethereum in relation to the infrastructure within the OKX Wallet ecosystem. He made it clear that even though the underlying principles would remain the same, the applications within this domain would be transformed due to AI.
The rise of AI-driven agents is reshaping how users interact with blockchain systems, prompting fresh discussions around infrastructure design.
Ethereum’s Two Core Functions Remain Foundational
As per Vitalik Buterin, Ethereum essentially performs two main purposes: that of data “bulletin board” and computing. Data bulletin board purpose is where anyone can publish data into the blockchain network, and this data can be interpreted differently by different applications using it. Open availability of data will always remain important for decentralized cooperation.
The computing aspect can be either done on-chain or off-chain, and this is useful in applications such as DeFi and many others. This means that there can be a lot of things that can be performed in a transparent manner. In today’s world of artificial intelligence too, this purpose is very important.
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AI Changes How Users Interact With Blockchain Systems
AI agents will change how people work with blockchains. Instead of using a limited set of interfaces for certain actions, the role of AI will allow the users to control several workflows at once. This will enable the user to use one interface to run several tasks.
Thus, the total amount of user actions with systems such as Ethereum will be noticeably increased. Since AI agents are capable of launching several tools and performing certain actions, the use of AI agents will make the process much more flexible.
Layer-2 Solutions Gain Importance in Agent Economy
Layer-2 networks are expected to play a critical role in supporting high-frequency AI-driven activity. Vitalik Buterin highlighted that simply scaling existing models is not enough, and new designs should be tailored to application-specific needs. This includes separating functions across layers to improve efficiency.
For example, core account management could remain on Layer-1, while trading and execution tasks move to Layer-2 environments. Additionally, Layer-2 solutions may expand into privacy-focused use cases, enabling secure and confidential transactions. This multi-layer approach reflects a more modular vision for blockchain infrastructure.
Economic Layer and Identity Become Key Challenges
As AI agents begin to interact autonomously, the need for a robust economic layer becomes more important. Different AI entities will require mechanisms to cooperate, transact, and establish trust without centralized control. Blockchain systems can provide this foundation through transparent and programmable incentives.
Identity systems will also need to evolve to support both humans and AI agents. Instead of fully exposing identities, solutions may rely on selective disclosure using technologies like zero-knowledge proofs. This approach ensures privacy while still enabling verification and trust in decentralized environments.
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