Mastercard is opening early access to a platform that enables AI agents to buy digital services autonomously using blockchain technology and stablecoins.
The payments company said it had completed end-to-end trials of its Agent Pay for Machines platform with Cloudflare, Ant International, AIsa, Base, BVNK, Coinbase and Hype.
The system is designed to let AI agents purchase services including data, computing power and image generation, while remaining within spending limits set by their human operators.
Mastercard demonstrated the technology at Cloudflare Connect in a test involving Hype, a marketing agency that uses AI agents to create advertising campaigns.
For the demonstration, Hype instructed an AI agent to plan a promotional campaign for the launch of a protein bar. The agent identified the services required, including social media research from AIsa and image generation via Cloudflare AI Gateway.
Once its budget had been approved, the agent made nine payments to the two providers. It bought the research and produced eight campaign images without needing separate accounts or individual billing arrangements.
The system uses x402, an open payment protocol that allows online services to request payment through the HTTP 402 status code. When an AI agent reaches a service that requires payment, it creates a digitally signed voucher within its authorised budget. The provider checks the voucher before supplying the service.
Payments are made offchain, enabling them to be approved quickly. Providers can then collect multiple vouchers and redeem them later.
Blockchain infrastructure remains central to the process. Coinbase Developer Platform provides the wallets, while Base, the Coinbase-backed Ethereum Layer 2 network, manages blockchain settlement.
BVNK, which Mastercard acquired this year for $1.8 billion, supplies the agent-wallet capability. It also uses Mastercard’s Global Money Platform to support payments and settlement in traditional currencies or stablecoins. Sellers can receive funds through their preferred payment methods.
The latest trials follow Mastercard’s June launch of Agent Pay for Machines, a framework aimed at supporting frequent, low-value payments between autonomous software systems. More than 30 industry participants initially backed the initiative, including Coinbase, Stripe, Ripple, Polygon and the Solana Foundation.
Mastercard said its early-access programme now includes APIs for buyers and sellers, developer documentation and a testing environment.
The company is seeking to provide a trust and authorisation layer for an economy in which AI agents can independently purchase digital resources. However, wider adoption will depend on developers incorporating the technology and businesses becoming comfortable with autonomous software controlling expenditure.
The project also reflects the expanding role of blockchain networks and stablecoins in AI-driven commerce, where software may need to make large numbers of small payments to different service providers.
