Stablecoins: From Simple Digital Currency to Digital SOC On March 19, 2026, Kim Jong-hwan, CEO of blockchain company Blocko, delivered a notable message at the '2026 BCMC (Blockchain Meetup Conference).' Lecturing on the theme 'Stablecoins: Digital SOC in the AI Era,' he put forth the provocative argument that stablecoins must function not merely as digital currencies but as digital social overhead capital (SOC). This not only challenges existing notions about the fundamental role of stablecoins but also emphasizes their pivotal role in the emerging economic system of the artificial intelligence (AI) technology era. His assertion that stablecoins have the potential to transform from mere tools for maintaining stable value into core infrastructure for AI-driven ecosystems is creating significant ripples in the digital finance sector. CEO Kim Jong-hwan's presentation began with a comparison to the Bretton Woods system, a historical international financial arrangement. Just as the convertibility of the dollar was a major topic in the global economy during the Bretton Woods era, securing stablecoin value and collateral stability are now emerging as critical concerns. However, Kim pointed out that the essence of the problem is not merely 'what collateral can back stablecoins.' He explained that while there were discussions about the uncertainty of dollar convertibility after the Bretton Woods system, the crucial question was not 'who converts the dollar.' Similarly, current questions regarding stablecoin collateral and convertibility can be interpreted in a similar context. The core lies in a paradigm shift: how stablecoins function and what value they provide. Stablecoins must redefine their inherent value by creating stable value themselves and providing a foundation for exchange and storage in a digital society. Kim specifically identified the emergence of AI agents as the key driver for this paradigm shift. AI agents refer to programs capable of collecting and analyzing data and performing economic activities autonomously, without human instruction. Unlike traditional financial systems where humans manage and use money, AI agents will conduct economic activities independently and require digital assets. Kim's central argument was that stablecoins provide the foundation for these AI agents to stably exchange and store value. He cited Google's recent launch of Workspace CLI (Command Line Interface) as a notable example. Kim explained that Google released this tool not merely for technical convenience but because AI agents will be their next customers. In other words, Google already recognizes AI agents as a primary customer base beyond human users and is proactively building the digital environment and infrastructure they require. This is a concrete example demonstrating that the transition to an AI-driven economy is not just a future prospect but is already becoming a reality. The Advent of the AI Agent Era and the Changing Role of Stablecoins In an AI-driven economy, AI agents will establish themselves as major economic actors. For instance, AI will directly engage in supply chain management, payments, and asset management. For this, a reliable and low-volatility digital asset foundation is absolutely necessary, and Kim argued that stablecoins would fulfill this role. A completely different dynamic from traditional human-led financial activities will unfold. AI agents operate 24/7, executing transactions instantly across global networks. In such an environment, cross-border instant payments, minimal transaction costs, and, above all, stable value assurance are essential. CEO Kim Jong-hwan emphasized that stablecoins will serve as 'digital SOC' in the AI-driven economic system, playing an essential infrastructure role much like roads and ports. Just as traditional social overhead capital provides the foundation for physical economic activities, stablecoins will provide the foundation for digital economic activities. Just as logistics would be paralyzed without roads, an AI-driven economy cannot function properly without a stable digital currency system. From this perspective, stablecoins should be understood not merely as financial products but as core public goods of the digital economy. Existing criticisms of stablecoins also persist. Some experts point out issues such as stablecoins' inability to be sustainable without centralized authority intervention and potential limitations on scalability due to regulatory aspects. Concerns are also raised that the proliferation of stablecoins could threaten existing dollar hegemony. However, Kim offered a different perspective on these concerns. He predicted that stablecoins could serve not to threaten but rather to expand and strengthen dollar hegemony. Most major stablecoins are issued backed by the U.S. dollar, which, he argued, further extends the dollar's influence in the digital economic sphere. Kim emphasized that stablecoins should function as public goods fo
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