Crypto’s AI ambitions are on hold until the sector sees a true ‘ChatGPT moment,’ Justin Sun says

After posting “All in AI” on X, Tron founder Justin Sun says artificial intelligence could become crypto’s next major growth engine — but only once the industry delivers products that resonate with everyday users.

Sun said Tuesday that while investor enthusiasm around AI-linked crypto tokens is growing, the sector has yet to produce a compelling, consumer-facing application that demonstrates clear value. Speaking with CoinDesk ahead of Consensus Hong Kong 2026, Sun argued that most AI tokens remain more theoretical than functional.

“AI is often talked about as the next catalyst for crypto,” Sun said, “but we haven’t seen the equivalent of a ‘ChatGPT moment’ yet — something that clearly shows why users should care.”

Without that breakthrough, Sun warned, hype alone is unlikely to fuel a sustained market cycle. Until AI applications mature, crypto’s momentum will continue to rely on proven use cases such as payments, settlement, and financial infrastructure.

“For most AI tokens, it’s still just a concept,” Sun said in Hong Kong. “It hasn’t really reached the point where it’s useful.”

Still, Sun maintained that the long-term convergence of AI and blockchain remains one of the industry’s most promising directions — particularly if developers focus on building tools that feel immediately practical rather than experimental.

For now, he said, crypto’s strongest and most reliable demand continues to come from areas like stablecoins and cross-border payments. In parts of the global south, where inflation has eroded trust in local currencies, USDT on Tron has become a critical financial tool.

As Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino noted last summer, high-value imports in countries such as Bolivia are increasingly settled in USDT rather than local fiat.

“[With blockchain], it’s the first time we’ve had this kind of digital dollar settlement — where you can move money anywhere, 24/7,” Sun said.

Until AI delivers a similarly clear consumer use case, Sun said crypto’s most visible progress is likely to remain in the infrastructure quietly powering everyday transactions.