Blockchain infrastructure company Alchemy has announced that its AgentCard service now integrates with Visa’s payment network, allowing AI agents to conduct transactions on behalf of consumers. This development marks a significant step in the evolution of agentic commerce, where AI-driven entities can perform tasks such as booking vacations or ordering groceries without direct human interaction.
The AgentCard functions as a virtual identity and spending card for AI agents, enabling them to access Visa Intelligent Commerce. This integration allows these agents to utilize Visa-issued tokens, which maintain existing rewards and credit benefits without the need for new accounts or credentials.
Each AgentCard comes with a unique email address and phone number, establishing a complete identity layer for the AI agents. This setup enables them to sign up for services, receive verifications, and operate similarly to human users.
According to Alchemy’s co-founder and CEO, Nikil Viswanathan, the introduction of AI agents as economic actors is a natural progression following previous technological shifts. He stated, “Every major computing shift has produced a new kind of economic actor. The internet created online businesses. Mobile created the app economy. AI agents are next, and they need to be able to access the global economy, and AgentCard is how that starts.”
The AgentCard’s routing layer is designed to select the most effective payment method for each transaction, utilizing single-use tokens when agent-native protocols are unavailable. This adaptability is crucial as the industry sees early adoption of agent-native payment systems, with major players like Stripe, Visa, and Mastercard exploring this new frontier.
As AI continues to advance, the integration of services like AgentCard with established payment networks could reshape the way consumers interact with digital commerce, potentially streamlining processes and enhancing user experiences.
Alchemy's integration of its AgentCard with Visa allows AI agents to conduct transactions, marking a significant advancement in agentic commerce. This development could transform online purchasing by enabling AI to handle tasks typically requiring human input.