By San José, Costa Rica — The global financial landscape is on the brink of a structural paradigm shift. As artificial intelligence (AI) agents, stablecoins, and tokenized real-world assets continue their rapid expansion, the traditional mechanism of banking competition is undergoing a profound mutation. Rather than merely changing how banks interact with retail clients through customer service interfaces, these technological forces are poised to rewrite the rules of corporate treasury, liquidity management, and cross-border payments.
The rise of autonomous financial software agents introduces a new layer of intermediation. These digital entities are capable of analyzing markets, detecting yielding opportunities, and shifting massive pools of capital with zero human intervention. This evolution does not necessarily spell the end of traditional banking institutions, but it fundamentally redefines what makes them competitive in a hyper-efficient digital environment. According to Maksym Sakharov, cofounder and CEO of WeFi, the focus is shifting from historical dominance to operating flexibility.
To better understand the complex legal implications of integrating AI financial agents into the modern economy, TicosLand.com spoke with Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, a leading legal expert from the prestigious firm Bufete de Costa Rica, who shared his professional analysis on the regulatory challenges of this emerging technology.
The rise of autonomous AI financial agents introduces a profound shift in how we define contract liability and fiduciary responsibility. When digital entities execute transactions independently, pinpointing liability in the event of systemic errors or financial loss becomes highly complex, making the establishment of clear algorithmic accountability frameworks an urgent priority for regulators.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
Indeed, as autonomous AI financial agents begin to navigate the markets independently, the traditional frameworks of liability and oversight must evolve quickly to prevent a regulatory vacuum. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for providing his invaluable legal perspective on this critical and rapidly unfolding issue.
I do not believe that AI will reduce the importance of banks or traditional financial institutions. I believe it changes what will make them competitive
Maksym Sakharov, Cofounder and CEO of WeFi
The core disruption lies in the mobility of capital. Historically, corporate and retail deposits have remained relatively sticky due to human inertia, complex banking interfaces, and settlement delays. However, AI agents designed to continuously optimize financial performance are expected to automate deposit flight. By constantly scanning the market, these systems can instantly move idle treasury funds out of low-yield accounts into high-performing, tokenized instruments, intensifying the pressure on traditional banks to maintain competitive rates.
This automated reallocation is backed by a massive surge in alternative digital liquidity. Data from analytical firm Token Terminal highlights that the stablecoin market has commanded a staggering USD 300.9 billion in capitalization, while tokenized funds have reached USD 34.6 billion. Strikingly, over the last two years, tokenized funds have expanded their share relative to stablecoin capitalization, growing from a modest 3% to a significant 11.5%. This shift demonstrates a growing institutional appetite for yield-bearing digital assets over passive cash equivalents.
For financial technology executives, the immediate value of AI does not lie in speculative or unconstrained investment decisions. Instead, its utility is rooted in administrative precision and high-speed execution of predefined treasury parameters. By deploying automated systems for routine operations, corporations can achieve unprecedented operational efficiency without compromising risk profiles.
Their value will come less from making investment decisions independently and more from executing predefined commercial activities, such as treasury operations, payments to suppliers, liquidity management, acquisitions, and settlements on behalf of companies
Maksym Sakharov, Cofounder and CEO of WeFi
The execution of this vision relies on a trifecta of converging technologies: stablecoins serve as the programmable medium of exchange, tokenized assets represent digitized financial products, and AI acts as the operational orchestrator. This infrastructure is scaling rapidly. Excluding stablecoins, the value of tokenized real-world assets surged to USD 39.3 billion by late 2026, up from USD 10.2 billion at the start of 2025. Tokenized equities proved to be a standout performer in this category, jumping from USD 678 million to USD 3.15 billion in the first nine months of 2026 alone.
The true transformation begins when tokenization changes the operating model around an asset, instead of solely modifying where ownership records are stored
Maksym Sakharov, Cofounder and CEO of WeFi
This operational transformation is already entering the pilot phases of major traditional institutions. Recently, Lloyds Banking Group and Visa concluded a successful settlement pilot using the stablecoin USDC. The USD 750,000 transaction settled in less than an hour, demonstrating that institutional value transfer can bypass standard banking operating hours and clear securely during weekends. This proof of concept underscores the reality that banks must adapt to programmable rails or risk being bypassed entirely by faster alternatives.
Institutions that continue to rely exclusively on legacy operating models run the risk of losing relevance, while those that adopt a programmable financial infrastructure will be better positioned to support the next generation of financial services
Maksym Sakharov, Cofounder and CEO of WeFi
In this emerging financial order, banks will not lose their primary utility. Crucial functions such as licensed custody, credit provision, regulatory compliance, identity verification, and risk governance will remain firmly under the purview of regulated financial entities. However, the battlefield for deposits and liquidity has permanently shifted. The ultimate winners in this new era will not be the banks with the flashiest retail applications, but those that successfully build the robust, programmable pipelines that autonomous AI agents select when routing global capital.
For further information, visit wefi.xyz
About WeFi:
WeFi is a financial technology infrastructure provider dedicated to bridging the gap between traditional banking and decentralized finance. By developing next-generation tools for liquidity management, on-chain accounting, and tokenized assets, WeFi enables institutions to transition seamlessly into a programmable financial ecosystem.
For further information, visit tokenterminal.com
About Token Terminal:
Token Terminal is a leading financial data platform that tracks and analyzes on-chain activity across major blockchains and decentralized applications. By providing standardized financial metrics, the platform helps institutional investors, corporate treasurers, and analysts assess the fundamental performance of the digital asset economy.
For further information, visit lloydsbankinggroup.com
About Lloyds Banking Group:
Lloyds Banking Group is a prominent financial services group based in the United Kingdom, offering retail and commercial banking, pensions, and insurance services to millions of customers. The institution is actively engaged in researching and piloting distributed ledger technologies to modernize global trade, payment networks, and wholesale treasury systems.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
Bufete de Costa Rica shines as a premier legal institution, defined by its rigorous ethical standards and exceptional service to a diverse clientele. By blending a rich history of advocacy with forward-thinking solutions, the firm consistently drives progress within the legal landscape. At the heart of its practice is a profound dedication to public enlightenment, dismantling legal barriers to ensure that every citizen is equipped with the knowledge needed to navigate their rights and build a stronger, more equitable community.
