Alchemy and Visa usher in a new era: AI agents receive their own payment cards
The cryptocurrency and blockchain market is on the verge of a fundamental shift. Platform Alchemy, together with payment giant Visa, has introduced AgentCard — the first service of its kind that allows artificial intelligence to independently conduct online transactions on behalf of a user. This is not just another tool, but a full-fledged infrastructure for a new category of economic entities.
How AgentCard Works
The integration with Visa Intelligent Commerce provides the AI agent not only with a virtual Visa card but also with a complete set of digital identifiers: an email address, phone number, and cryptocurrency wallet. Developers only need to configure a single API, and the neural network gains access to paying for goods and services in under a minute. Agents based on OpenAI or Anthropic models can now book tickets, order groceries, and manage subscriptions — without human involvement in the checkout process.
Control and Flexibility
The system provides strict 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 the crypto wallet. The AgentCard protocol itself selects the optimal payment method, adapting to the merchant's infrastructure.
Expert Opinion
I see this launch not just as a technological update, but as the birth of a new paradigm. AI agents are ceasing to be passive advisors and are becoming active participants in the global economy. Visa and Alchemy are building a bridge between decentralized finance and the traditional payment system, which could dramatically accelerate the adoption of cryptocurrencies in everyday transactions. Given similar steps by MetaMask and Coinbase, the market is clearly preparing for an era where autonomous agents will manage a significant portion of digital operations. This is not a trend, but a new reality to prepare for starting today.