Bybit CEO Outlines Finance's Next Phase: AI Agents and Institutional Adoption
Bybit Co-founder and CEO Ben Zhou said the financial industry's next evolution will be driven by three converging forces: artificial intelligence, programmable assets, and clearer regulation. Speaking at Paris Blockchain Week 2026, Zhou described a future where financial services operate so quietly that users barely notice the infrastructure behind them.
The shift centers on what Zhou called "agentic finance"-AI systems that handle market execution, strategy implementation, and data analysis without manual user intervention. Bybit has already launched AI agent accounts that let clients create sub-accounts for these systems to interact with markets and access data.
Today, these AI applications focus mainly on analytics. But Zhou suggested execution itself could be reshaped over time. Users would no longer navigate traditional platform interfaces. Instead, AI would interpret information, make decisions, and optimize outcomes in real time.
Traditional Finance Adopts Blockchain Infrastructure
Zhou highlighted a quieter trend: traditional financial institutions building on blockchain infrastructure without always using the "crypto" label. These firms prioritize utility over speculation. Stablecoins, in particular, are becoming a bridge for faster payments, efficient settlement, and access to global liquidity.
This marks a turning point. Blockchain is moving from the margins of finance into its foundation.
Regulation as Catalyst, Not Barrier
Zhou argued that trust depends on regulatory clarity. As frameworks become defined, institutions gain confidence to enter the space. He cited the United Arab Emirates as leading on this front, alongside progress in Europe and evolving positions in the United States and the United Kingdom.
Regulation is shifting from obstacle to catalyst for market maturity.
The Goal: Invisible Infrastructure
Zhou reframed the industry's ultimate aim: not replacing existing financial systems, but enhancing them. The future involves services that are more efficient, intuitive, and globally accessible-yet increasingly invisible to end users.
Blockchains, wallets, and platforms fade from attention. What remains is a system that works: trust embedded in infrastructure, intelligence operating quietly, and technology supporting everyday financial life.
For finance professionals, understanding AI for Finance and AI Agents & Automation is becoming essential to navigating this shift.
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