AI and blockchain: The new strategic race of the 21st century

The convergence of AI and blockchain is becoming increasingly evident as experts like Ben Goertzel call for the development of AI in a decentralized direction. The World Economic Forum emphasizes that the combination of AI, blockchain, and spatial computing will shape the digital future.

Marc Andreessen – a renowned venture capitalist in the cryptocurrency field – believes that controlling AI is the top strategic priority for China and the U.S., as the two superpowers enter into a "technological Cold War" to gain absolute dominance.

At Web Summit Vancouver, the AI theme dominated, with discussions from major funds such as Insight Partners, Sapphire Ventures, and Menlo Ventures. Investment is heavily leaning towards AI: in Q1 2025, this sector attracted up to 73 billion USD, accounting for nearly 60% of total global funding, while blockchain only attracted 4.8 billion USD.

Some notable projects include Catena Labs, co-founded by Circle's Sean Neville, which raised $18 million to build an AI-driven financial organization; and Nous Research, a decentralized AI startup built on Solana, which recently successfully raised $50 million from Paradigm and major funds.

The AI ratio in global VC transactions has significantly increased since 2021. Source: PitchBook