Barry Silbert Sees Decentralized AI as Next Big Crypto Trend
1min read Barry Silbert, the founder of Digital Currency Group, has recently shifted his focus towards the convergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain technology. In a conversation with Real Vision’s Raoul Pal, Silbert highlighted decentralized AI as a key emerging trend in the crypto space, particularly emphasizing the potential of the Bittensor project.
Silbert, who is well-known for his early involvement with Bitcoin, has increasingly turned his attention to AI. He acknowledged that while the potential of AI took some time to resonate with him, it has now become a primary area of focus. During an appearance at SuperAI in Singapore, he explained his realization that AI is not only powerful but also increasingly relevant to the future of blockchain innovation. “AI has become a clear theme,” Silbert said. “I began to look at where it intersects with crypto in a way that creates real value.”
Silbert’s interest in AI within the crypto space was sparked by the Bittensor project. Unlike most AI-related crypto projects that focus on payments, Bittensor offers decentralized infrastructure for building AI applications directly on the blockchain. This unique approach caught Silbert’s attention, leading him to identify Bittensor as a project with serious potential. “This is the next big investment theme in crypto,” he said.
Silbert believes that the crypto industry is entering a new phase, with decentralized AI poised to be the next wave of innovation. Following the rise of Bitcoin, Ethereum, NFTs, and DeFi, he views decentralized AI as the next evolutionary step. “This is not just a payment mechanism for AI,” he said. “It’s about creating the infrastructure that AI can operate on top of, and that’s what makes it important.”
In the past year and a half, Silbert’s confidence in Bittensor has grown significantly. He now says the project has reached “escape velocity,” a term he uses to describe a project that has gathered enough momentum to sustain its own growth. Although several projects are exploring the AI-blockchain space, Silbert has singled out Bittensor as a leader. Its technical design and long-term vision set it apart from many recent entries in the market. “We’ve backed a number of projects, but this is the one that’s broken away from the pack,” he said.
