The integration of AI agents into blockchain technology will significantly influence the next generation of on-chain ecosystems, according to Pedro Gomes, Founder of WalletConnect.

Speaking with Benzinga, Gomes described a future where intelligent software agents autonomously navigate decentralized applications (dApps), manage digital portfolios and even participate in governance.

Gomes highlighted the transformative potential of AI in the crypto space, particularly through AI agents as autonomous entities that can interact with dApps, execute transactions and make decisions based on real-time data.

"The next generation of the onchain ecosystem will undoubtedly be shaped by AI," he stated, emphasizing their role in enhancing efficiency and user experience.

He explained that AI agents could manage portfolios, optimize trades, and handle governance tasks like proposing protocol upgrades or adjusting gas fees dynamically.

"An AI agent could interact with DeFi protocols to manage investments, or with NFT marketplaces to predict and suggest assets," Gomes noted, pointing out how this integration could make Web3 interactions more intuitive and seamless for users.

The complexity of building Web3 infrastructure was a key focus of the discussion. Gomes described the challenge of supporting a diverse ecosystem, from non-custodial wallets to DeFi apps and NFT marketplaces, requiring a protocol that is both robust and adaptable.

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He emphasized the importance of staying connected with integrating projects to ensure high standards of user experience (UX), noting, "If users have a bad experience connecting their wallet or completing a transaction, everyone loses."

To address UX challenges, WalletConnect is developing Smart Sessions, which allow users to pre-approve actions, reducing repetitive signing prompts and bringing dApp interactions closer to Web2's seamless standards.

Gomes also addressed the evolving role of wallets in digital identity frameworks, agreeing with Reown CEO Jess Houlgrave that wallets are becoming "digital filing cabinets for our lives."

By 2030, he envisions wallets managing not just assets but also medical records, credentials, and access rights, with connectivity protocols like WalletConnect acting as bridges between identity layers and applications.

On regulatory challenges, Gomes highlighted WalletConnect's collaboration with partners like Reown, whose Travel Rule for Bitcoin exemplifies balancing compliance with decentralization, ensuring the protocol remains legally sound while adhering to its open-source vision.

Mainstream adoption of dApps remains hindered by onboarding difficulties, poor UX and cultural misalignment, according to Gomes.

He pointed to the complexity of setting up wallets and managing keys as significant barriers, alongside the need for more intuitive designs that don't overwhelm users with technical jargon like gas fees.

He cited Polymarket's success in tapping into mainstream culture through betting and prediction markets as a model for broader resonance, stressing that crypto apps must meet users where they are to achieve widespread adoption.

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