Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the world of crypto and traditional markets, but according to four leading analysts, it rewards skill rather than replacing it. The edge in AI in crypto trading still comes from clean data and human judgment.
Charles Edwards of Capriole Investments and Julio Moreno of CryptoQuant call AI an accelerant for serious research. Benjamin Cowen and Michael van de Poppe, speaking on a separate panel, reach the same conclusion from the trading desk. On-chain analytics and AI tools have moved from niche to mainstream across crypto research.
The clearest gains show up in routine research. AI now compresses tasks that once took hours. Edwards pointed to faster analysis as the main benefit. Van de Poppe showed how accessible this has become, building a sample crypto portfolio using a chatbot and free data feeds.
However, speed does not equal skill. Van de Poppe noted that his AI portfolio missed important context. He said judgment fills that gap. Professional funds treat AI as infrastructure, not a crystal ball. Edwards built his firm around large, tested models, combining on-chain technicals and macro data for many years to build out trading models.
Cowen is building his own bot from the ground up, avoiding training on low-quality AI output to prevent model decay. Van de Poppe runs his fund the same way, with AI writing the base of his trading algorithms, but a human touch is still essential.
The market reaction to AI in crypto trading has been mixed. Some institutions are embracing AI as a tool to improve their trading strategies, while others are more cautious. The impact of AI on institutional trading is significant, as it can help to identify trends and patterns that may not be immediately apparent to human traders.
In conclusion, AI is changing the face of crypto trading, but it's not a replacement for human skill and judgment. The key to success lies in combining the power of AI with the expertise and intuition of human traders.
