Paul Griggs, U.S. senior partner and CEO of PwC, said the firm will prioritize trust, AI, and crypto technologies to support the U.S. economy.
This strategic shift comes as the nation marks its 250th anniversary [1]. The move reflects a broader push by the Big Four accounting firms to integrate generative AI and blockchain into traditional financial services to maintain competitiveness in a digital-first market.
During a CNBC interview published May 11, 2026, Griggs detailed the firm's vision for the next chapter of American economic growth. He said that trust must remain at the center of the economy to ensure stability as new technologies are adopted. The firm is currently pushing into AI and crypto technologies to drive this evolution [1], [2].
Griggs linked the current transition to the long-term perspective of the firm, which has a 175-year history [1]. He said the adoption of AI is not optional for businesses wishing to survive. By combining deep historical experience with modern tech integration, PwC aims to guide clients through the complexities of digital transformation [2].
The CEO's focus on crypto suggests a shift toward accepting decentralized finance as a permanent fixture of the corporate landscape. This approach aims to bridge the gap between legacy accounting practices and the requirements of a high-tech economy. The firm intends to use these tools to increase efficiency, and transparency for U.S. businesses [1], [3].
“Trust must remain at the center of the economy”
The emphasis on trust and AI by a major accounting firm indicates that the industry is moving beyond the experimental phase of generative AI. By explicitly linking crypto and AI to the national economic interest, PwC is signaling that these technologies are no longer niche assets but are essential infrastructure for corporate governance and financial reporting in the U.S.
