Alchemy and Visa launch AgentCard: AI agents gain access to global payments
The blockchain infrastructure platform Alchemy, together with payment giant Visa, has introduced an innovative service called AgentCard. This solution marks a new stage in the integration of artificial intelligence into the global economy, allowing AI agents to make purchases on behalf of users in a fully autonomous mode.
AgentCard is not just a payment tool, but a full-fledged digital passport for neural networks. As part of the integration with Visa Intelligent Commerce, each AI agent receives a virtual Visa card, an email address, a phone number, and a cryptocurrency wallet. Developers can configure access to pay for goods and services through a unified API in less than a minute.
Agents based on OpenAI or Anthropic models are now capable of independently booking tickets, ordering groceries, renewing subscriptions, and performing other routine tasks — without human involvement in the checkout process. At the same time, the system takes into account strict restrictions: spending limits, store categories, and customizable budgets.
How payment works
By default, transactions go through Visa tokens, allowing the user to retain bank bonuses and credit lines. However, if the merchant supports digital assets, AgentCard automatically switches to the cryptocurrency wallet. The protocol itself selects the optimal payment method depending on the merchant's infrastructure.
"Every shift in technology has created new economic participants. AI agents are the next stage, and they need access to the global economy," said Alchemy CEO Nikhil Viswanathan.
Visa's infrastructure, according to the company, ensures the security and scalability of such transactions. This is critically important for the mass adoption of autonomous agents, which must operate within clear financial rules.
This is not the first step in this direction. Previously, MetaMask announced a wallet for the era of AI agents, and Coinbase launched a service for connecting neural networks to user accounts for trading and payments. However, the partnership between Alchemy and Visa appears to be the most systematic solution, capable of setting a standard for the entire industry.
Expert opinion: AgentCard is not just a convenient tool, but a fundamental shift. While most projects focus on creating "smart" agents, Alchemy and Visa are solving the most difficult problem — their integration into the real economy. If this protocol gains widespread adoption, we will witness an explosive growth in the number of autonomous payments, where humans will only set parameters, and agents will execute transactions.