The Future of AI & Blockchain? Aptos CEO Reveals the Plan! | Avery Ching artwork

The Future of AI & Blockchain? Aptos CEO Reveals the Plan! | Avery Ching

Thinking Crypto News & Interviews

June 23, 2026

Avery Ching, Co-Founder & CEO at Aptos Labs, joined me to discuss the latest developments on the Aptos blockchain, including privacy, AI, and more.
Speakers: Avery Ching, Tony Edward
**Avery Ching** (0:00)
AI doesn't need crypto to be successful as old. It is incredibly successful technology. And so when people kind of liken these two together, in many ways, AI has brought a lot more value than crypto has brought so far. I think that's the right way to assess it.

**Tony Edward** (0:09)
You have the convergence of all these technologies, blockchain, quantum, AI. I'm very curious how would they all mesh together in the future into different use cases and utility.

**Avery Ching** (0:18)
It is a brave new world.

**Tony Edward** (0:24)
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Link will be in the description.
Hi, everyone. Welcome into the Thinking Crypto Podcast. I'm your host, Tony Edward, and joining me is Avery Ching, who is the co-founder and CEO of Aptos Labs. Avery, great to have you back on.

**Avery Ching** (2:59)
It's great to be here with you again, Tony.

**Tony Edward** (3:02)
Yeah, Avery, excited to chat. Lots happening in the Aptos ecosystem as it relates to AI, privacy, and much more. Excited to dive into the details. I would love to kick it off with what's the latest and greatest with Aptos. What's top of mind for you?

**Avery Ching** (3:17)
I think the thing that's been on my mind this year a lot has been the pace of regulation. We had a chance to participate in the Clarity Act House Agriculture Committee back in June of last year and testify in support of it and seeing it now making its way to the Senate. It's a very exciting moment for the industry. I think in many ways we underestimated the impact of regulatory clarity. But even going back to my time in Libra in 2018 and seeing how that impacted a lot of the work negatively and now seeing that full circle. We're here where industry is moving forward and the government is supportive of this and the regulators are very excited about seeing crypto being big in America.
Things are completely reversed and that's going to lock a huge cycle of innovation for America and the rest of the world.

**Tony Edward** (4:05)
Absolutely. I think a lot of folks are chomping at the bit waiting for this bill to make it to the Senate floor for a full vote and of course make it to wait to President Trump's desk. Recently we had the markup phase make it through the Senate Banking Committee. So are you optimistic to see this bill, there's a high likelihood that it's going to pass this year?

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