The launch of EVMbench comes amid rising crypto-related losses, with attackers stealing $3.4 billion in 2025 alone. As AI systems grow more autonomous, their ability to secure — or exploit — smart contracts becomes critically important. OpenAI emphasized that AI agents could become transformative for both defenders and attackers in blockchain ecosystems.

Industry leaders are already anticipating AI-driven financial activity. Jeremy Allaire, CEO of Circle, recently predicted that billions of AI agents could transact using stablecoins within five years. Meanwhile, Changpeng Zhao has suggested crypto may become the native currency for AI agents. Benchmarks like EVMbench aim to track whether AI can safely operate in such high-stakes financial environments.