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The internet’s long-missing payments layer may finally be falling into place as artificial intelligence converges with crypto, according to venture capitalist Marc Andreessen.
“I think this is the grand unification basically of AI and crypto is what’s about to happen now,” Andreessen said on the “Latent Space” podcast earlier this month.
The modern internet was built without native payments, hence the long-unused HTTP status code “402 Payment Required.” But stablecoins and AI agents can now fix that gap and reshape online commerce, Andreessen said.
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In the early web, developers left a placeholder for payments that went largely unused, known as the HTTP 402 “Payment Required” status code. “Yes. It was a 402 payment required,” Andreessen said of the unused code, which was originally intended to support native online transactions.
Asked whether the industry would finally solve it, he said, “Oh, I think we will. I think it’s going to happen for sure.” That gap is becoming more urgent as AI systems begin to act independently online.
Autonomous AI systems could drive the next wave of cryptocurrency adoption, Andreessen said on the podcast.
“I think AI is the crypto killer app, I think, is where this is really going to come out,” he said. “AI agents are going to need money. And it’s already happening, right? If you’ve got a claw and you want it to buy things for you, you have to give it money in some form.”
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He cited early users of OpenClaw who have already given it access to financial accounts.
“My friends who are the most aggressive users of OpenClaw have given their Claws bank accounts and credit cards,” Andreessen added.
He said access to funds could become necessary. “If you don’t give it a bank account, it’s just going to break into your— Right,” he said. “It’s going to break into your bank account anyway.”
The adoption of AI agents with access to financial accounts remains extremely low today. “The number of people who have done that today … is like, I don’t know, probably 5,000 or something, but that’s how these things start,” Andreessen said.
He added, “The future is already here. It just isn’t distributed yet.”
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Coinbase Global’s (NASDAQ:COIN) x402 protocol, which revives the long-dormant HTTP 402 ‘Payment Required’ status code to enable stablecoin micropayments, has processed millions of transactions since its launch last year, CoinDesk reported.
In parallel, AI agents generated tens of billions of dollars in on-chain transaction volume on Solana last year, according to The Motley Fool.
The internet’s long-standing payments gap could be addressed as artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency converge, Andreessen said on the “Latent Space” podcast. For him, AI agents will need the ability to transact, a shift that could drive demand for crypto-based payment infrastructure.
As AI agents and stablecoin-based payments continue to evolve the crypto landscape, investors are increasingly looking for ways to gain exposure to the broader trend shaping digital finance and automation.
For those interested in accessing publicly traded companies and crypto-related assets tied to these long-term shifts, platforms like Public offer a streamlined way to invest in stocks, ETFs, and select digital assets within a single account.
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Building a resilient portfolio means thinking beyond a single asset or market trend. Economic cycles shift, sectors rise and fall, and no one investment performs well in every environment. That’s why many investors look to diversify with platforms that provide access to real estate, fixed-income opportunities, professional financial guidance, precious metals, and even self-directed retirement accounts. By spreading exposure across multiple asset classes, it becomes easier to manage risk, capture steady returns, and create long-term wealth that isn’t tied to the fortunes of just one company or industry.
Rad AI
RAD Intel is an AI-driven marketing platform helping brands improve campaign performance by turning complex data into actionable insights for content, influencer strategy, and ROI optimization. Positioned within the multi-hundred-billion-dollar digital marketing industry, the company works with global brands across sectors to improve targeting precision and creative performance using its analytics and AI tools. With strong revenue growth, expanding enterprise contracts, and a Nasdaq ticker reserved under $RADI, RAD Intel is opening access to its Regulation A+ offering, giving investors exposure to the growing intersection of AI, marketing, and creator economy infrastructure.
Mode Mobile
Mode Mobile is changing the way people interact with their phones by letting users earn money from the same apps and activities they already use every day. Instead of platforms keeping all the advertising revenue, Mode Mobile shares a portion back with users who engage with content, play games, and scroll on their devices. Named one of Deloitte’s fastest-growing software companies in North America, the company has built a large beta user base and is scaling a model that turns everyday smartphone usage into a potential income stream. For investors, Mode Mobile offers exposure to the expanding mobile advertising and attention economy through a pre-IPO opportunity tied to a new approach to user monetization.
rHealth
rHealth is building a space-tested diagnostics platform designed to bring lab-quality blood testing closer to patients in minutes rather than weeks. Originally validated in collaboration with NASA for use aboard the International Space Station, the technology is now being adapted for at-home and point-of-care settings to address widespread delays in diagnostic access.
Backed by institutions including NASA and the NIH, rHealth is targeting the large global diagnostics market with a multi-test platform and a model built around devices, consumables, and software. With FDA registration in progress, the company is positioning itself as a potential shift toward faster, more decentralized healthcare testing.
Direxion
Direxion specializes in leveraged and inverse ETFs designed to help active traders express short-term market views during periods of volatility and major market events. Rather than long-term investing, these products are built for tactical use—allowing investors to take magnified bullish or bearish positions across indices, sectors, and single stocks. For experienced traders, Direxion offers a way to respond quickly to changing market conditions and act on high-conviction views with greater flexibility.
Arrived
Backed by Jeff Bezos, Arrived Homes makes real estate investing accessible with a low barrier to entry. Investors can buy fractional shares of single-family rentals and vacation homes starting with as little as $100. This allows everyday investors to diversify into real estate, collect rental income, and build long-term wealth without needing to manage properties directly.
Masterworks
Masterworks enables investors to diversify into blue-chip art, an alternative asset class with historically low correlation to stocks and bonds. Through fractional ownership of museum-quality works by artists like Banksy, Basquiat, and Picasso, investors gain access without the high costs or complexities of owning art outright. With hundreds of offerings and strong historical exits on select works, Masterworks adds a scarce, globally traded asset to portfolios seeking long-term diversification.
Finance Advisors
Finance Advisors helps Americans approach retirement with greater clarity by connecting them to vetted, fiduciary financial advisors who specialize in tax-aware retirement planning. Rather than focusing on products or investment performance alone, the platform emphasizes strategies that account for after-tax income, withdrawal sequencing, and long-term tax efficiency—factors that can materially impact retirement outcomes. Free to use, Finance Advisors gives individuals with meaningful savings access to a level of planning sophistication historically reserved for high-net-worth households, helping reduce hidden tax risk and improve long-term financial confidence.
Bam Capital
BAM Capital offers accredited investors a way to diversify beyond public markets through institutional-grade multifamily real estate. With over $1.85 billion in completed transactions and guidance from Senior Economic Advisor Tony Landa, the firm targets income and long-term growth as supply tightens and renter demand remains strong—especially in Midwest markets. Its income-focused and growth-oriented funds provide exposure to real assets designed to be less tied to stock market volatility.
Public
Public is a multi-asset investing platform built for long-term investors who want more control, transparency, and innovation in how they grow wealth. Founded in 2019 as the first broker-dealer to offer commission-free, real-time fractional investing, Public now lets users invest in stocks, bonds, options, crypto, and more—all in one place. Its latest feature, Generated Assets, uses AI to turn a single idea into a fully customized, investable index that can be explained and backtested before committing capital. Combined with AI-powered research tools, clear explanations of market moves, and an uncapped 1% match for transferring an existing portfolio, Public positions itself as a modern platform designed to help serious investors make more informed decisions with context.
AdviserMatch
AdviserMatch is a free online tool that helps individuals connect with financial advisors based on their goals, financial situation, and investment needs. Instead of spending hours researching advisors on your own, the platform asks a few quick questions and matches you with professionals who can assist with areas like retirement planning, investment strategy, and overall financial guidance. Consultations are no-obligation, and services vary by advisor, giving investors a chance to explore whether professional advice could help improve their long-term financial plan.
EnergyX
EnergyX is a lithium extraction company focused on making production faster and more efficient with its LiTAS® technology, which can recover over 90% of lithium in just days instead of months. Backed by General Motors and a $5 million U.S. Department of Energy grant, the company controls extensive lithium acreage in Chile and the U.S. and is working to scale one of the largest lithium production facilities. Its goal is to help meet the rapidly growing global demand for lithium, a key resource for electric vehicles, consumer electronics, and large-scale energy storage.
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