Alchemy and Visa launch AgentCard: AI agents get their own payment tools
Alchemy, in partnership with Visa, has introduced AgentCard — a solution that equips AI agents with full payment capabilities. Now, neural networks can independently make online purchases on behalf of users, using a virtual Visa card, email address, phone number, and cryptocurrency wallet. Integration with Visa Intelligent Commerce provides agents with a complete set of data for operations, while a unified API allows developers to configure access to paying for goods and services in under a minute.
AI agents powered by models from OpenAI or Anthropic will be able to book tickets, order groceries, and manage subscriptions without user involvement in the checkout process. 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 a crypto wallet is used if the merchant supports digital assets.
"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. Visa representatives emphasize that their infrastructure will ensure the security and scalability of such transactions. The AgentCard protocol automatically selects the optimal payment method based on merchant support.
This is not the first step toward integrating AI into the financial ecosystem. In June, MetaMask announced a wallet for the era of autonomous artificial intelligence, and Coinbase introduced a service that connects an AI agent to a user's account for trading and payments within set limits. Estonia, meanwhile, is working on creating digital IDs for AI agents.
Expert commentary from Cryptalist: AgentCard is not just another product — it is a fundamental shift in the economy. We are witnessing the birth of a new class of economic entities: autonomous agents that will manage finances more efficiently than humans. However, the key challenge remains: security and control. Without clear protocols and limits, such systems risk becoming tools for abuse, especially in the highly volatile crypto market.