Why machine-to-machine payments are the new electricity for the digital age

The article argues that machine-to-machine (M2M) payments, functioning as continuous micro-transactions, are the 'new electricity' necessary to power the emerging machine economy, where software and devices transact autonomously without human intervention. Just as standardized electricity transformed industry by becoming an ambient substrate rather than a localized feature, M2M payments, facilitated by blockchain technology acting as the 'new power grid,' will enable continuous economic activity. This shift overcomes the current episodic nature of digital payments, allowing for innovations like autonomous supply chains and real-time pricing for AI services. The author stresses that the underlying blockchain infrastructure—requiring near-zero fees, low latency, and neutrality—is more critical than specific payment applications, mirroring how electricity transmission was key to the electrical revolution.

(Source：CoinDesk)