Alchemy and Visa launch AgentCard: AI agents get their own payment tools
Alchemy, in partnership with Visa, has launched a new service called AgentCard. This solution fundamentally changes the approach to how artificial intelligence interacts with the financial system: AI agents can now independently make online purchases on behalf of users.
The integration with Visa Intelligent Commerce provides neural networks with a full set of identification and payment data: a virtual Visa card, an email address, a phone number, and a cryptocurrency wallet. Developers only need to configure a single API for the agent to gain access to paying for goods and services—the entire process takes less than a minute.
Based on models from OpenAI or Anthropic, such agents will be able to book tickets, order groceries, and renew subscriptions without user involvement in the checkout process. The system supports flexible spending limits, restrictions by store category, and customizable budgets. By default, payments are processed through Visa tokens, preserving bank bonuses and credit lines. If the merchant accepts digital assets, the service automatically switches to the 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. Visa representatives emphasize that their infrastructure ensures the security and scalability of such transactions, and the AgentCard protocol independently selects the optimal payment method based on merchant support.
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.
Expert opinion: The launch of AgentCard is not just another payment tool but a fundamental step toward integrating AI into the global economy. We are witnessing the birth of a new class of economic agents that will operate autonomously, yet under human control. However, security remains the key challenge: once AI agents gain access to real money, the risks of fraud and abuse will increase. In the coming years, the market will face fierce competition over standards for verifying and managing such transactions.