AI Kills Jobs, Crypto Eats Payments: Citrini Research’s 2028 Scenario

Citrini Research’s analysis envisions a 2028 economy significantly reshaped by artificial intelligence. Initially, AI boosts productivity, leading to stock market gains, but widespread layoffs cause consumer demand to collapse, creating a negative feedback loop. This “ghost GDP” sees output rise while wages fall, disproportionately impacting lower and middle-class workers. The scenario predicts a housing market crisis triggered by joblessness and a shift in payments away from traditional card networks towards stablecoins on blockchains like Solana and Ethereum, as AI agents prioritize cost and speed. Ultimately, wealth inequality widens, benefiting asset owners while diminishing the value of labor, with Bitcoin potentially exceeding $1 million. The memo, dated February 2026, suggests these trends are already beginning to materialize.

(Source：Cointelegraph)