Blockchain Emerges as Trust Infrastructure for AI-Dominated Internet, Cross-Chain Integration Advances

Blockchain Positioned as Trust Layer for AI-Dominated Future

As artificial intelligence systems rapidly evolve toward autonomy, blockchain technology is emerging as a potential solution to ensure transparency and verifiability in AI decision-making processes. Research firm Gartner predicts that AI agents will generate more than 80% of global internet traffic by 2030^[1], raising urgent questions about how to maintain oversight of increasingly autonomous systems.

Nick McQuire, Managing Vice President of Gartner's Emerging Technology division, addressed these concerns during a presentation at the Cardano Summit in Berlin. McQuire outlined how blockchain could serve as a technical "trust anchor" in an AI-dominated digital landscape^[1].

Five Technological Shifts Reshaping Web3

According to Gartner's analysis, the future trust infrastructure will not rely on a single technology but will emerge from the interplay between autonomous AI agents, geopolitically fragmented data spaces, disinformation threats, digital identity systems, and decentralized networks^[1].

The research firm has identified several key areas where blockchain technology intersects with AI development, including cloud sovereignty, digital authenticity verification, and combating disinformation. These developments are expected to create new billion-dollar markets as enterprises seek solutions to manage AI systems responsibly^[1].

Gartner explicitly describes blockchain as a potential trust layer for an AI-dominated digital world across multiple future scenarios^[1]. The firm emphasizes that digital identities, zero-knowledge verification, and on-chain provenance will become central building blocks of the coming AI era^[1].

Base Network Launches Solana Bridge

In a significant development for blockchain interoperability, Coinbase's Base network has launched a cross-chain bridge connecting to Solana using Chainlink's Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP)^[2].

The bridge enables Base developers to integrate Solana-native assets and tokens into their applications, while users can trade and utilize assets across both blockchains "regardless of whether they're on Base or Solana,"^[2] according to the Base team.

The project has been released as open-source code, making it publicly accessible for anyone to view, use, modify, and distribute^[2]. This decision aligns with Base's stated goal to "build a global economy" that is "interoperable and connected"^[2].

Base's Rapid Growth in DeFi Market

Launched by Coinbase in 2023, Base has experienced exponential growth and now ranks as the fifth-largest blockchain by total value locked (TVL), according to data from DefiLlama^[2]. The network holds more than $4.57 billion in decentralized finance (DeFi) TVL, positioning it just below Bitcoin and behind market leaders Ethereum (over $70 billion TVL) and Solana (over $9 billion TVL)^[2].

Notably, Base has achieved this ranking without issuing its own native token, though speculation about a potential token launch intensified after Coinbase executive and Base head Jesse Pollak indicated earlier this year that a token would eventually be introduced^[2].

Market Implications

Following the bridge announcement, Solana's price declined over 5%, coinciding with a broader cryptocurrency market pullback that saw the total market capitalization slip more than 2% in 24 hours^[2]. The correction represented one of the largest single-day losses among the top ten cryptocurrencies by market capitalization^[2].

As blockchain technology increasingly integrates with AI systems and cross-chain interoperability improves, industry observers suggest that established protocols including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and alternative Layer-1 networks could benefit from these technological convergences^[1].