Cryptocurrency billionaire Justin Sun said the next breakthrough in cryptocurrencies could come from artificial intelligence (AI), saying in a post on X on Tuesday that he is all-in on AI but the industry has yet to produce products that resonate with consumers.
In an interview with CoinDesk ahead of Hong Kong Consensus 2026, the Tron founder believed that most AI-related tokens are still conceptual rather than functional.
While investors often view artificial intelligence as the next catalyst for digital assets, Sun said the industry lacks the equivalent of a “ChatGPT moment” — a consumer-facing application that can clearly demonstrate value.
Until then, he said, excitement alone is unlikely to drive sustained market cycles, with cryptocurrencies relying on progress in payments, settlements and other proven use cases.
“For most AI tokens, it’s just a concept,” Sun said in Hong Kong. “It doesn’t really get to the point yet.”
Still, Sun maintains that the convergence of AI and blockchain remains one of the most promising long-term directions for the industry, especially if developers can create tools that are immediately useful rather than experimental.
At the same time, Sun said the most reliable momentum for the industry still comes from areas that have shown sustained demand, especially stablecoins and cross-border payments.
In parts of the Southern Hemisphere, where locals simply distrust currencies ravaged by inflation, USDT on Tron is a lifeline for accessing financial services. As Tether founder Paolo Ardoino highlighted last summer, in countries such as Bolivia, high-end imported products are paid for in USDT.
“[With blockchain it’s] For the first time in the world, we have this digital dollar settlement that allows you to transfer money anytime, anywhere 24/7. ” Sun said.
Until consumer AI products provide the same clarity as stablecoins, the most visible advances in cryptocurrencies may still reside in the infrastructure that silently supports daily transactions.
