AI Agents Paying in Crypto? Google’s New Protocol Makes It Possible

Google has unveiled a new open-source payments protocol designed to make transactions between artificial intelligence (AI) applications more seamless.

The framework, announced on Tuesday, introduces support for traditional payment methods such as credit and debit cards, while also adding stablecoins into the mix.

The inclusion of crypto-backed payments signals Google’s intention to merge digital assets into the world of AI-driven commerce.

Stablecoins enter the AI payment ecosystem

To integrate stablecoins, Google worked closely with Coinbase, one of the largest U.S. crypto exchanges, which has been building its own system for AI-to-crypto payments.

Other contributors included the Ethereum Foundation and more than 60 organizations across industries, such as Salesforce, American Express, and Etsy.

James Tromans, Google Cloud’s head of Web3, told Fortune that the initiative was designed to account for both existing payment rails and future-facing options like stablecoins.

Stablecoins, digital tokens pegged to assets like the U.S. dollar, are increasingly being considered as reliable payment instruments for both traditional and digital-first businesses.

In this case, their inclusion in Google’s framework could allow AI agents, autonomous algorithms trained for specific tasks, to settle transactions on behalf of users across different platforms.

These could range from AI assistants handling online shopping to AI financial agents brokering services like mortgages or insurance policies.

AI agents and the future of transactions

The new protocol builds on an earlier Google initiative from April that focused on creating a universal standard for communication between AI agents. According to report, the latest addition now ensures that payments between agents remain secure, verifiable, and aligned with what users intend.

Coinbase and Google emphasized that they worked together to ensure compatibility across their respective systems, with Coinbase’s Erik Reppel noting, “We’re all working to figure out how we can make AI transmit value to each other.”

Google’s move arrives as Big Tech companies show growing interest in stablecoins, particularly in the U.S., where the current administration has leaned toward more crypto-friendly policies.

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