Mastercard Launches Agent Connect to Expand AI-Powered Shopping
The company also expanded its Agent Suite for Merchants, giving businesses tools to make products discoverable across AI platforms, create shopping experiences within their own digital channels and support transactions initiated by AI agents. Mastercard announced the developments on September 9, 2026.
Mastercard Targets the Rise of Agentic Commerce
Agent Connect is designed to connect merchants, AI agents, commerce platforms and payment providers without requiring businesses to maintain separate integrations for every platform. Mastercard said the system extends its existing network model into what it calls agentic commerce.
For merchants, the expanded Agent Suite can make product information such as pricing, availability and fulfillment options accessible to participating AI agents. Businesses can also use the platform to create AI-powered shopping experiences on their own websites, applications and other digital environments.
The approach is aimed at a shift in how consumers discover and purchase products. Instead of interacting directly with individual websites or applications, shoppers can increasingly rely on AI systems to search for products, compare options and help assemble purchases.
Mastercard said merchants will retain control over pricing, fulfillment, customer relationships, brand presentation and business rules when participating through Agent Connect.
AI Agents Can Move From Discovery to Checkout
Agent Connect is structured around several stages of the shopping process. Participating AI agents can access merchant-authorized product catalog information, recommend products and confirm details such as final pricing, taxes, shipping and fulfillment costs.
The system is also designed to support transaction completion using secure payment credentials. Mastercard said its Agent Pay technology can add security through Verifiable Intent, a mechanism intended to help ensure that purchases are completed with the consumer's authorization.
Mastercard's global Agent Connect platform describes the system as protocol-agnostic and designed to provide access to a growing ecosystem of merchants, AI agents and payment service providers through a single connection. It also supports dynamic merchant catalogs, allowing participating agents to access updated product information through the platform.
Mastercard Expands Merchant Partnerships
The company said a growing group of businesses and technology providers plans to explore Agent Suite for Merchants. Those organizations include Castlery, Fabrick, Fiserv, FreedomPay, Getnet, Global Payments, Moneris, Nexi, Network International, Trip.com and Worldline.
For Agent Connect, Mastercard said the initial network will begin in the United States and includes companies and platforms such as Bemobi, Getnet, Glance, Global Payments, Planet, Network International, Nexi, Samsung, Trip.com, Vodafone Egypt, Wizard and Wompi.
The launch comes as Mastercard broadens its work around AI-driven commerce. The company said it will continue working with AI companies including Anthropic and OpenAI to explore merchant-authorized commerce experiences.
Mastercard's latest move places payment infrastructure alongside product discovery and AI-based decision-making, with Agent Connect expected to evolve as additional capabilities and participants are added.
writer: Ethan Collins
Crypto Journalist
Ethan Collins reports on developments across the cryptocurrency and blockchain sector. His work covers market movements, protocol updates, regulatory changes, and emerging trends in digital assets.
He focuses on presenting complex topics in a clear and accessible manner for a broad readership.
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