Payment firms to co-develop framework to recognise AI agents that purchase on users’ behalf

Ant International, Mastercard and Visa have joined forces to create a framework for trust in AI agents that can handle purchases on behalf of users. The trio of companies announced their collaboration on Thursday, unveiling a Know-Your-Agent interoperability framework. This new initiative aims to enable card networks, digital wallets, agent platforms and online marketplaces to identify trusted AI agents across diverse payment ecosystems while still adhering to their own approval and risk-management procedures.

The push towards agentic global consumer commerce is gaining momentum, with AI agents progressing from merely suggesting options to executing transactions on behalf of users. Visa and Mastercard are also reportedly nearing a settlement with merchants, which could lead to reduced fees, according to a recent report in The Wall Street Journal.

Building upon their existing protocols, such as Visa’s Trusted Agent Protocol, Mastercard Verifiable Intent and Ant International’s Agentic Mobile Protocol, the companies believe their new framework could streamline integration costs and hasten the launch of novel agentic services. By fostering greater trust and visibility into risk factors across participating networks, the collaboration seeks to expedite the evolution of AI agents in the financial services landscape.

To execute this initiative, Visa, Mastercard and Ant International have partnered through BuildFin.ai, a platform established by the Monetary Authority of Singapore. This platform unites financial institutions, technology providers and researchers to develop AI solutions tailored for financial services.