Alchemy and Visa launch AgentCard: AI agents get their own payment tools
The cryptocurrency and blockchain technology market continues to evolve, and one of the most significant events in recent days is the partnership between the Alchemy platform and payment giant Visa. Together, they have introduced the AgentCard service — an innovative solution that empowers AI agents to make online purchases on behalf of users. This is not just another step in automation, but a fundamental shift in how we understand economic interaction.
The essence of the technology lies in its integration with Visa Intelligent Commerce. Thanks to this, AI agents receive a full set of data to work with: a virtual Visa card, an email address, a phone number, and, crucially for us, a cryptocurrency wallet. Developers only need to configure a single API, and the agent's access to paying for goods and services is set up in less than a minute. Imagine: neural networks based on models from OpenAI or Anthropic can now book tickets, order groceries, or renew subscriptions — all without your involvement in the checkout process.
The system is meticulously designed: it supports spending limits, restrictions by store category, and customizable budgets. By default, payments are processed via Visa tokens, allowing users to retain bank bonuses and credit lines. However, if the merchant accepts digital assets, the service can switch to a crypto wallet. As Alchemy CEO Nikhil Viswanathan noted, "Every shift in technology has created new economic participants. AI agents are the next phase; they need access to the global economy."
Visa's infrastructure, according to the company, will ensure the security and scalability of such transactions. The AgentCard protocol automatically selects the optimal payment method based on merchant support. This echoes recent announcements: in June, MetaMask introduced a wallet for the era of autonomous AI, and later Coinbase launched a service connecting an AI agent to a user's account for trading and payments.
My expert opinion: This move by Alchemy and Visa is not just a technological novelty, but a signal that AI agents are becoming full-fledged participants in the global economy. For the crypto community, this opens new horizons: the integration of crypto wallets into such systems could accelerate the mass adoption of digital assets, especially if merchants begin to actively support cryptocurrency payments. However, it is important to remember the risks — autonomous agents require strict security measures, and the AgentCard protocol should set the standard in this area.