In a recent article written for Entrepreneur, Sandeep Nailwal, co-founder and CEO of Layer 2 (L2) blockchain Polygon (POL), made a bold prediction for the 2026 technology landscape.
Nailwal predicts a significant convergence of blockchain, artificial intelligence (AI) and payment technologies that could potentially “completely reshape the internet.”
Blockchain transparency solution
At Nailwal’s visionartificial intelligence will take over the decision-making role in this coherent structure. Blockchains would then verify these decisions, ensuring their authenticity, and payment infrastructure would facilitate the seamless transfer of value for immediate enforcement of these decisions.
Combining these technologies can have far-reaching consequences. Nailwal highlights the role of artificial intelligence in shaping various aspects of everyday life and business operations, from content curation to supply chain logistics and making financial decisions.
However, the challenge is the opacity of AI systems, including narrow transparency of decision-making and data integrity.
The solution to this transparency problem is blockchains, offering a public ledger that provides insight into transactions, models and decisions. The security protocols inherent in blockchain technology not only protect digital signatures, but also verify the results of algorithms, instilling trust in the decision-making process.
Nailwal emphasizes the importance zero knowledge proofs (ZKP) in ensuring transparency without compromising data privacy, enabling the verification of policies and decisions without revealing sensitive information.
The future of digital wallets
According to Nailwal, the transition from trust-based to evidence-based systems has already begun, with governments using blockchain platforms to anchor public records and maintain transparency and accountability.
Additionally, blockchain payment systems are being tested in cities around the world for a variety of applications, from tax collection to cross-border transfersushering in a up-to-date era of efficiency and security in financial transactions.
Another area of interest is the evolution of payment systems, with digital currencies expected to streamline cross-border transactions by eliminating intermediaries.
Nailwal noted platforms like Polygon that are now facilitating seamless stablecoin payments, offering brisk and cost-effective transfers for individuals and businesses around the world.
Furthermore, Nailwal predicts a future in which digital wallets Consolidate your identity, data and financial resources by simplifying everyday tasks such as payments and document signing.
The convergence of artificial intelligence, blockchain and payments is expected to redefine user experiences by seamlessly integrating trust mechanisms into everyday interactions. Nailwal concluded:
The biggest technological change of 2026 will not be a up-to-date network or a up-to-date model, but the unceremonious creation of the converged Internet, an infrastructure that can think, verify and pay for itself. Most people won’t notice the change. They will simply find that the digital world suddenly works as it should – smoothly.
At the time of writing, Polygon’s native token, POL, was trading at $0.1025. That means year-to-date losses of almost 80% and 92% from the record high of $1.29.
Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com
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