Alchemy and Visa launch AgentCard: AI agents get their own payment tools
The market for autonomous artificial intelligence agents is taking another step toward full-fledged economic integration. The Alchemy platform, together with Visa, has introduced the AgentCard service — a solution that allows AI agents to independently make online purchases on behalf of the user. This is not just a test feature, but a full-fledged payment infrastructure embedded in the Visa Intelligent Commerce ecosystem.
A complete set of digital tools for neural networks
Each AI agent connected via AgentCard is assigned a virtual Visa card, a separate email address, a phone number, and a cryptocurrency wallet. Developers need only a single API to set up access to paying for goods and services in under a minute. This radically simplifies integration: agents based on OpenAI or Anthropic models can now book tickets, order groceries, renew subscriptions — all without human involvement in the checkout process.
Security and flexibility at the protocol level
The system provides detailed restrictions: spending limits, bans by store category, and customizable budgets. By default, payments go through Visa tokens, preserving the user's bank bonuses and credit lines. If the merchant accepts digital assets, the service automatically switches to the crypto wallet. The AgentCard protocol itself selects the optimal payment method based on the merchant's support.
"Every shift in technology has created new economic participants. AI agents are the next stage — they need access to the global economy," emphasized Alchemy CEO Nikhil Viswanathan.
Visa representatives noted that their infrastructure ensures the security and scalability of such transactions. This is a logical step: the payment industry giant cannot ignore the growing demand for autonomous financial operations.
Context and competition
Recall that earlier MetaMask announced a wallet for the era of AI agents, and Coinbase launched a service connecting neural networks to user accounts for trading and payments. AgentCard from Alchemy and Visa is not the first, but perhaps the most institutional attempt to give agents their own "wallets" and payment credentials.
My professional opinion: AgentCard is not just a convenient tool, but a fundamental shift in how we will interact with finances. When an AI agent receives its own virtual card and crypto wallet, it ceases to be just an assistant — it becomes a full-fledged economic agent. Security and control issues remain, but the trend is clear: autonomous agents will spend money, and Visa with Alchemy want to be the ones to process those transactions.