Hassan Maishera
TL;DR
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Alchemy has launched AgentCard, a Visa-integrated virtual card system that lets AI agents autonomously make payments, hold wallets, and operate in real-world commerce.
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Built on Visa’s Intelligent Commerce platform, it supports tokenized payments, crypto transactions, and emerging agent-native protocols like x402 and Stripe’s MPP.
Blockchain infrastructure provider Alchemy has unveiled AgentCard, a new AI-focused virtual Visa card designed to help autonomous AI agents interact with and transact in the real world.
The product combines payments, identity, and wallet infrastructure into a single solution, allowing developers to equip AI agents with the tools needed to operate independently across digital and commercial environments.
Built on Visa’s AI Commerce Framework
AgentCard was developed through an integration with Visa’s Intelligent Commerce platform, a suite of solutions designed to support AI-driven commerce experiences at scale.
The virtual card system enables AI agents to make tokenized card payments while also supporting cryptocurrency transactions where accepted by merchants.
In addition, AgentCard is compatible with emerging payment rails designed specifically for autonomous agents, including:
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Coinbase’s incubated x402 protocol
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Stripe’s Machine Payments Protocol (MPP)
The integration positions AgentCard as a bridge between traditional payment networks and next-generation AI-native transaction systems.
Alchemy’s launch comes amid increasing activity in the emerging AI payments sector. Several companies have recently introduced products aimed at enabling AI agents and bots to conduct transactions autonomously.
Among them is Oobit, a wallet startup backed by Tether, which introduced virtual corporate Visa cards that allow bots to spend USDT balances.
Meanwhile, Mastercard recently launched Agent Pay for Machines, a framework built to support high-volume, always-on transactions between AI systems.
Earlier this month, MetaMask Agent Wallet was also introduced, providing AI agents with direct access to the broader Ethereum ecosystem.
Like many competing solutions, AgentCard includes several safeguards designed to keep autonomous spending under control.
Developers can configure merchant restrictions, per-transaction spending limits, budget controls, and usage guidelines and permissions.
The system defaults to Visa-issued payment tokens but can automatically switch to crypto rails or agent-native payment protocols as merchant support expands.
According to Alchemy, this allows developers to benefit from future payment innovations without needing to manually reconfigure their applications.
One API Provides Identity, Payments, and Wallet Access
AgentCard is designed to simplify deployment through a single API integration.
Once connected, developers can provide their AI agents with a Visa payment token, a dedicated email address, a phone number, and a cryptocurrency wallet.
The unified setup removes much of the operational complexity typically involved in preparing AI agents to interact with external services and payment systems.
Often referred to as the "AWS of Web3," Alchemy powers a significant share of blockchain activity across multiple networks.
Its co-founder, Nikil Viswanathan, has long argued that blockchain technology is particularly well-suited for AI agents because it enables programmable ownership, payments, and identity systems.
The launch of AgentCard reflects that vision by combining traditional financial infrastructure with decentralized payment capabilities.
