Visa and Mastercard Back Ant International’s ‘Know Your Agent’ Standard for AI Payments
Visa and Mastercard have joined Ant International’s proposed standard for verifying AI agents, a move aimed at creating a common way to establish whether an artificial intelligence agent is authorized to conduct transactions on behalf of a user.
According to BSCN, the companies have signed on to Ant International’s “Know Your Agent” framework. Under the proposed system, an AI agent that has already been cleared by one participating provider would not need to complete the registration process again with other providers.
Companies Already Developing AI Payment Systems
Visa, Mastercard and Ant International are already operating separate protocols designed to support payments involving AI agents.
The proposed framework seeks to address a potential duplication problem as more payment providers develop their own systems for identifying and verifying autonomous software agents. Rather than requiring an agent to undergo separate checks with every provider, the “Know Your Agent” approach would allow verification from one provider to be recognized by others participating in the standard.
The announcement, however, did not include technical specifications for how the framework would operate. It also did not identify a governance body responsible for administering the standard or provide a timeline for implementation.
Those details leave key aspects of the proposed system unresolved, including how participating companies would coordinate verification and how an agent’s credentials would be recognized across different payment networks.
AI Agents Could Handle Trillions in Commerce
The companies cited projections from McKinsey that AI agents could handle between $3 trillion and $5 trillion in consumer commerce by 2030.
That forecast provides the commercial backdrop for efforts to establish standards around agent-based payments. AI agents are designed to perform tasks on behalf of users, potentially including activities that involve purchasing goods or services. A system capable of verifying those agents across multiple payment providers would therefore address a specific requirement for transactions in which software, rather than a person directly, initiates an action.
The proposed standard is still at an early stage, however. The absence of technical specifications, a designated governance organization and an implementation timeline means that the practical operation of the framework has yet to be defined.
Verification Remains the Central Issue
For payment networks, determining whether an AI agent is authorized to act for a user is distinct from simply processing the transaction itself. Ant International’s proposal focuses on establishing a common verification layer that could potentially be recognized across participating providers.
Visa and Mastercard’s participation gives the initiative involvement from two major global payment networks, while Ant International is contributing a framework around agent verification. The companies already operate their own agent payment protocols, making interoperability a central element of the proposed approach.
For now, the next stage will depend on the development of the technical and governance details that were not included in the initial announcement.
Writer: Marcus RenfieldCrypto Market Analyst & Onchain WriterMarcus Renfield covers cryptocurrency markets with a focus on onchain data, Bitcoin price action, and emerging market narratives. His writing examines how capital flows, network activity, and broader market structure influence short- and medium-term trends.He aims to provide clear, data-informed analysis for readers seeking a deeper understanding of crypto market dynamics.