Alchemy and Visa launch AgentCard: AI agents get their own payment tools
Blockchain infrastructure platform Alchemy, together with payment giant Visa, has introduced AgentCard — a service that endows artificial intelligence with full financial capabilities. Now, AI agents can independently make online purchases on behalf of a user, using a virtual Visa card, email, phone number, and cryptocurrency wallet.
How it works
The solution is integrated with Visa Intelligent Commerce, providing neural networks with a complete set of data for transactions through a single API. Developers can configure an agent's access to pay for goods and services in less than a minute. The system supports flexible spending limits, restrictions by store categories, and customizable budgets. By default, payments are processed through Visa tokens, preserving bank bonuses and credit lines, while if the merchant supports digital assets, a crypto wallet is used.
What this means for the market
AI agents based on OpenAI or Anthropic models will be able to book tickets, order groceries, and renew subscriptions without user involvement. This fundamentally changes the approach to automating everyday tasks: instead of manual management, a person delegates not only decision-making but also financial operations to the agent.
"Every shift in technology has created new economic participants. AI agents are the next stage — they need access to the global economy," said Alchemy CEO Nikhil Viswanathan.
The ecosystem is evolving
This is not the first step in this direction. Previously, MetaMask announced a wallet for the era of autonomous AI, and Coinbase introduced a service that connects an agent to a user's account for trading and payments within set limits. It is clear that infrastructure for AI agents is becoming a key trend of 2025.
My expert opinion: AgentCard from Alchemy and Visa is not just another product, but a fundamental shift in the economy. AI agents are ceasing to be mere tools and are becoming independent economic entities. For the crypto market, this means explosive growth in demand for decentralized identifiers, smart contracts for payment automation, and scalable blockchain solutions. Investors should take a closer look at projects building infrastructure for such agents — this is where capital will concentrate over the next 12–18 months.