Visa, Mastercard, and Ripple advance AI stablecoin payments

Visa, Mastercard, and Ripple support x402, enabling AI-driven stablecoin payments. Stablecoins and cards will coexist, powering micro and macro transactions in the AI economy.

Visa, Mastercard, Ripple, and other major payment networks have endorsed the x402 standard, enabling AI agents to make stablecoin payments autonomously. This innovation facilitates high-volume micropayments between systems, streamlining transactions without human intervention. The Linux Foundation announced that x402 now operates under formal governance with 40 members, following a significant contribution from Coinbase. In a joint report, Visa and Artemis highlighted that current card infrastructure cannot fully support the needs of an autonomous AI agent economy, which demands frequent, low-value payments. The report suggests stablecoins are better suited for software-to-software micropayments, while cards will remain essential for consumer purchases. A hybrid model is anticipated, with stablecoins powering micro-commerce and cards supporting macro-commerce. The rise of autonomous AI payments introduces new legal and infrastructure challenges, positioning blockchain and digital assets as crucial to the future of automated payments.