Alchemy and Visa launch AgentCard: AI agents get their own payment credentials
The market for autonomous agents is taking a new step toward financial independence. Blockchain infrastructure platform Alchemy, together with payment giant Visa, has introduced the AgentCard service — a comprehensive set of payment and identification tools for AI agents. Now, neural networks can make online purchases on behalf of a user without their direct involvement.
The integration with Visa Intelligent Commerce provides the agent with a virtual Visa card, an email address, a phone number, and a cryptocurrency wallet. Developers only need to connect a single API, and access to paying for goods and services is configured in under a minute. AI agents based on OpenAI or Anthropic models will be able to book tickets, order groceries, renew subscriptions — all without involving humans in routine checkout processes.
Flexible control and dual payment mechanism
The system supports spending limits, store category restrictions, 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. The AgentCard protocol itself selects the optimal payment method based on merchant support.
"Every technology shift has created new economic participants. AI agents are the next stage — they need access to the global economy," said Alchemy CEO Nikhil Viswanathan. Representatives of Visa emphasize that their infrastructure guarantees the security and scalability of such transactions.
As a reminder, in June, the MetaMask team 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. Clearly, the industry is moving toward creating a full-fledged economy for artificial intelligence.
My analysis: The launch of AgentCard is not just another payment tool. It is a fundamental shift: AI agents are ceasing to be passive assistants and are becoming active participants in the global market. Visa and Alchemy are effectively legitimizing a new category of economic entities. In the coming years, we will see an explosive number of transactions conducted without human involvement, which will require a revision of regulatory norms and security models.