SharpLink CEO Predicts Future of Digital Wallets and AI Agents

SharpLink CEO Joseph Chalom, formerly the head of digital assets at BlackRock, shared insights at the 2026 Hong Kong Web3 Carnival. According to Foresight News, Chalom highlighted his experience in the crypto industry, noting that he has witnessed 5-6 cycles of significant rises and falls over the past eight years. He emphasized that after each downturn, the market reaches new highs, with quality projects surviving while lesser ones are eliminated. Chalom pointed out the unique aspect of Digital Asset Treasury (DAT), where Ethereum's price increases lead to stock price rises, and even during downturns, staking can maintain Ethereum's 'productivity.' Since October last year, the prices of BTC, ETH, and SOL have significantly retracted. Although short-term price predictions are challenging, the current risk-reward ratio is the best it has been in a long time. Looking ahead, Chalom predicted that in 3-5 years, most people will possess a new type of digital wallet, which users may not even recognize as a 'crypto wallet.' Brokerage accounts will transform into on-chain wallets, and bank accounts will incorporate on-chain components. He also foresees that most individuals will have a 'digital twin' AI agent to manage tasks such as depositing salaries, allocating year-end bonuses according to preferences, and even performing quarterly rebalancing. These agents, which do not sleep or make mistakes, will align their incentives with users. The machine economy of agents will integrate into daily life, much like ordering food via smartphones today, with most activities occurring on the most secure and trusted blockchain, Ethereum. Chalom expressed concerns about two main issues: the increasing correlation between crypto assets and tech stocks, which complicates explaining their unique value to investors, and the need for improved security standards within the ecosystem.