On Tuesday, Google, the world’s largest search engine operator, announced the launch of its Agent Payments Protocol (AP2), developed in partnership with more than 60 global players, including payments, fintech, and Web3.
The protocol is designed to standardise how autonomous AI agents carry out financial transactions, reflecting the growing demand for systems that support purchases without direct human oversight.
Crypto at the core of Google AP2
A key highlight of the launch is the introduction of A2A x402, a dedicated extension built with Coinbase, the Ethereum Foundation, and MetaMask.
This extension directly integrates cryptocurrency and stablecoin payments into AP2, embedding Web3 infrastructure at the protocol’s foundation.
The global tech giant’s move signals a recognition of the crypto sector as a natural testing ground for autonomous AI transactions, where digital assets provide the speed, transparency, and interoperability needed for agent-driven commerce.
According to Google, today’s payment networks were designed with the assumption that a human is always present to authorise and confirm purchases.
This assumption no longer applies as AI agents become increasingly capable of executing transactions independently.
To address this, AP2 introduces cryptographically signed “Mandates” tamper-proof digital contracts that create a verifiable chain of evidence from a user’s original intent to the final payment.
For instance, when a user directs an AI to buy white running shoes, the intent is recorded in an Intent Mandate, and once approved, the transaction is finalised with a Cart Mandate.
For more complex tasks, such as buying concert tickets at a specific time and price, users can pre-sign detailed mandates that empower agents to act independently while leaving behind a transparent audit trail.
How AP2 could transform everyday transactions
Google demonstrated how AP2 could transform everyday transactions. An AI agent could be instructed to purchase a green winter jacket, even at a premium, or manage more complex arrangements like booking a hotel and flight within a set budget.
With the A2A x402 extension, these capabilities now extend to crypto and stablecoin payments, ensuring that digital assets are treated as native options within the protocol rather than external add-ons.
Meanwhile, this drew strong support across industries. Global firms, including Adobe, Accenture, Deloitte, Mastercard, PayPal, and Mysten Labs, endorsed the initiative, while stablecoin-focused companies such as BVNK pointed to AP2 as a potential solution to scaling challenges in traditional payments.
Lightspark highlighted the protocol’s role in advancing seamless global interoperability.
For Google, AP2 is about more than transactions. It is about establishing a universal framework for the era of agentic commerce, where AI systems transact autonomously on behalf of users and businesses.
Crucially, AP2 is payment-agnostic, meaning it can support credit cards, real-time bank transfers, or digital assets depending on user preference and merchant capability.
What comes next
The company continues to invest in trust, security, and interoperability as part of a common standard, positioning itself at the centre of the AI-commerce transformation.
Including leading crypto players reinforces this vision and indicates that stablecoins and digital assets are moving from the margins toward becoming mainstream in AI-driven transactions.
However, the protocol’s success will depend on widespread adoption and alignment with global regulations. Backed by Silicon Valley, Wall Street, and the crypto economy, Google has built a strong coalition to drive its vision forward.
This could open the door to entirely new business models, from autonomous procurement in B2B settings to decentralised commerce, where AI agents can negotiate and complete deals without human oversight.