Alchemy and Visa launch AgentCard: AI agents get their own payment tools
The cryptocurrency and blockchain industry is taking another step towards automating financial operations. The Alchemy platform, together with payment giant Visa, has introduced the AgentCard service — a solution that grants AI agents full payment capabilities. Now, neural networks can independently make online purchases on behalf of the user, without their direct involvement in the transaction process.
The integration with Visa Intelligent Commerce provides artificial intelligence with a whole set of tools: a virtual Visa card, an email address, a phone number, and a cryptocurrency wallet. Developers only need to configure a single API, and the agent gains access to paying for goods and services in literally minutes. This fundamentally changes the approach to delegating financial authority.
How does it work in practice?
AI agents built on OpenAI or Anthropic models will be able to book airline tickets, order groceries, renew subscriptions — all without human involvement. The system already includes built-in control mechanisms: spending limits, restrictions by store category, 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.
"Every technological shift has created new economic participants. AI agents are the next stage; they need access to the global economy," noted Alchemy CEO Nikhil Viswanathan. Visa representatives emphasize that their infrastructure will ensure the security and scalability of such transactions, and the AgentCard protocol itself selects the optimal payment method depending on the merchant's support.
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 AI agent to a user's account for trading and payments within set limits. It is clear that the market is moving towards creating a full-fledged economy where artificial intelligence will become an equal participant in financial relations.
Expert opinion: The launch of AgentCard is not just another integration, but a signal of the beginning of a new era in the crypto economy. When AI agents receive their own payment identifiers, we are essentially creating a new class of economic entities. However, the key challenge will remain security: how to prevent abuse and fraud when an autonomous algorithm can spend real funds? Issues of control and auditing of such systems will become the main topic for regulators in the coming years.