According to @LexSokolin, AI-driven automation will erode moats for fintechs built on manual processes, increasing competitive pressure and likely attrition among such startups, which is a material risk factor for investors; source: Lex Sokolin on X, Jan 19, 2026. According to @LexSokolin, large language models can generate middleware in seconds, compressing software differentiation and shifting value away from labor-intensive fintech operations toward automation-native architectures, a dynamic traders should factor into positioning; source: Lex Sokolin on X, Jan 19, 2026. According to @LexSokolin, firms integrating AI at the protocol layer will be more defensible than those relying on manual workflows, implying a relative advantage for API-first, automation-centric platforms and related crypto protocols with embedded AI logic; source: Lex Sokolin on X, Jan 19, 2026. According to @LexSokolin, for trade setup, this view favors exposure to fintech and crypto infrastructure that embed AI at the protocol layer and underweights operations-heavy models that depend on manual processes as automation advances; source: Lex Sokolin on X, Jan 19, 2026.

According to Lex Sokolin, the current financial system, internet, and crypto landscape are primarily designed for humans, content, and speculation respectively. Sokolin highlights the need for new protocols, standards, and innovative thinking to support the emerging machine economy. He confirms that this vision motivated his investment in Peaq, a platform focused on building infrastructure for machine-to-machine (M2M) economic activity. This development signals a potential shift towards utility-driven crypto protocols that can expand trading opportunities beyond human-centric speculation, introducing new long-tail assets and liquidity dynamics in the digital asset market (source: Lex Sokolin).