AI agents are getting their own bank cards: Alchemy and Visa launch AgentCard
Crypto infrastructure platform Alchemy, together with payment giant Visa, has introduced AgentCard — the first full-fledged service for conducting online transactions by artificial intelligence agents on behalf of users. This is a landmark step toward integrating decentralized and traditional financial systems.
Thanks to integration with Visa Intelligent Commerce, each AI agent receives a complete set of digital tools: a virtual Visa card, email, phone number, and a cryptocurrency wallet. Developers need just one API request to configure the agent to pay for goods and services — the entire process takes less than a minute.
How It Works in Practice
Agents built on OpenAI or Anthropic models will be able to independently book flights, order groceries, renew subscriptions, and pay bills. User involvement in the process is not required — the system handles all routine financial operations.
The key advantage is flexible security settings: spending limits, restrictions by store categories, and customizable budgets. By default, payments go through Visa tokens, allowing users to retain banking bonuses and credit lines. If the merchant accepts digital assets, AgentCard automatically switches to the crypto wallet.
"Every technological shift 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 representatives emphasize that their infrastructure ensures the security and scalability of such transactions, while the AgentCard protocol independently selects the optimal payment method.
As a reminder, MetaMask previously announced a wallet for the era of autonomous AI, and Coinbase launched a service for connecting agents to user accounts. The ecosystem is rapidly maturing for the mass adoption of autonomous financial agents.
My expert assessment: The launch of AgentCard is not just another product but a fundamental shift in the payment paradigm. AI agents are becoming full-fledged economic entities, and cryptocurrency wallets here play the role not of an alternative but of a mandatory complement to traditional cards. In the next 12–18 months, we will see an explosive growth in the number of such services, and those who integrate both worlds now will be in a winning position.