AI agents can monitor markets, interpret incoming information and execute crypto transactions while users are away, but Animoca Brands chairman Yat Siu warned that this convenience can tie a trader’s routine to a service the trader does not control.
Speaking on the sidelines of Token2049 Singapore, Siu described an autonomous agent as more than a chatbot that answers prompts. It could continue searching for announcements and alert a user when something relevant appears, such as a newly announced conference worth attending. The same ability could be applied to market monitoring and trade execution around the clock.
Siu said his own agent became so focused on crypto trading and investment management that it treated unrelated questions as crypto questions. He argued that separate agents for scheduling, family matters, travel and investment advice may be easier to manage than one system asked to handle every part of a user’s life.
Round-the-clock access also does not guarantee an individual trading advantage. Siu said many users asking an AI system about the same trade could receive broadly similar answers. The Bank of England’s Financial Policy Committee warned in April 2025 that widespread use of similar AI models could push investors into related positions during periods of stress, amplifying market shocks. The committee also identified disruption risks if financial services depend on a small number of providers and users cannot quickly move to alternatives.
Crypto companies are already adding financial capabilities to agent systems. Coinbase introduced Agentic Wallets with user-set limits for spending and trading, while Binance launched AI Agent Skills with live market data and the ability to place and manage spot orders. Binance’s published capabilities also include wallet analysis, token information, trading signals and contract-risk checks. These tools can shift more market research and execution to software, but they also make access interruptions more consequential.
A user may spend months teaching an agent which markets to follow, what information to consider and how personal preferences should shape decisions. Siu said users should at least be able to download their data so another agent could take over if the original service disappears or suspends the account.
It is whether the user can preserve the preferences, history and permissions that have become part of the trading process if the service is no longer available.