AI Agents Could Disrupt Internet's Ad-Based Business Model

Erik Reppel, head of engineering at Coinbase Developer Platform, has made a bold prediction about the future of the internet's economics. At Consensus Miami 2026, he suggested that AI agents could disrupt the current ad-based business model and lead to new monetization models.

According to Reppel, the rise of autonomous AI systems, which he calls the 'agentic economy,' could create a massive new market for internet-native payments. He estimates that this sector could grow to between $3 trillion and $5 trillion within four years.

To achieve this vision, Reppel advocates for the use of stablecoin-powered micropayments, which would allow AI agents to automatically pay for content, APIs, and digital services using crypto rails. He sees his x402 protocol as a crucial piece of infrastructure in making this vision a reality.