Alchemy and Visa launch AgentCard: AI agents get their own payment tools
Blockchain infrastructure platform Alchemy, together with payment giant Visa, has introduced the AgentCard service — a full-fledged payment solution for artificial intelligence. Now AI agents operating on OpenAI or Anthropic models can independently make online purchases on behalf of the user, without their direct involvement.
The integration with Visa Intelligent Commerce provides neural networks with a complete set of data: a virtual Visa card, email address, phone number, and cryptocurrency wallet. Developers can configure the agent's access to pay for goods and services through a single API in less than a minute.
How it works
AI agents equipped with AgentCard can book airline tickets, order groceries, renew subscriptions, and perform other financial operations. The system supports flexible spending limits, restrictions by store categories, and customizable budgets. By default, payments are processed through Visa tokens, allowing users to retain bank bonuses and credit lines. If the merchant accepts digital assets, the service automatically switches to a crypto wallet.
"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 AgentCard protocol automatically selects the optimal payment method based on merchant support. Visa, in turn, guarantees the security and scalability of such transactions through its infrastructure.
This launch is part of a broader trend. Previously, MetaMask announced a wallet for the era of autonomous AI, and Coinbase introduced a service connecting AI agents to user accounts for trading and payments within set limits. Estonia, by the way, is already working on creating digital IDs for AI agents.
My analysis: AgentCard is not just another product, but a fundamental shift in the digital payments paradigm. We are witnessing the birth of a new economic unit — an autonomous agent that can act in the user's interests but without their constant oversight. This opens up enormous opportunities for automation, while simultaneously raising questions of security and control. The market, in my estimation, will react extremely positively to this solution — especially in the DeFi and automated services segments.