Google has unveiled a major step forward in the future of AI-powered commerce with the launch of the Agent Payments Protocol (AP2). The new open standard is designed to help AI agents conduct secure, transparent, and verifiable transactions—reshaping how payments are managed in an increasingly AI-driven economy.
Setting a New Standard for AI Commerce
Developed in collaboration with more than 60 payments and technology companies, AP2 extends Google’s existing Agent2Agent (A2A) and Model Context Protocol (MCP) frameworks. This initiative reflects Google’s push to create a trusted foundation where AI can operate with accountability, authenticity, and authorization when managing financial transactions on behalf of users.
Stavan Parikh, Vice President and General Manager of Payments at Google, explained that as autonomous AI agents grow in adoption, building trust becomes critical. “AP2 provides a trusted foundation to fuel a new era of AI-driven commerce. It creates the building blocks for secure transactions and opens up innovation opportunities for networks, issuers, merchants, technology providers, and consumers alike,” he said.
Addressing the Challenge of AI-Led Transactions
Unlike traditional systems where humans directly approve payments, AI-driven commerce introduces new complexities. How can intent, authority, and authenticity be proven when an AI executes a transaction on behalf of its user?
AP2 tackles this challenge with cryptographically signed digital contracts known as Mandates. These act as verifiable proof of a user’s instructions, ensuring transparency whether it’s a real-time purchase or a delegated task, such as an AI assistant automatically booking concert tickets under pre-approved conditions.
Supporting Multiple Payment Types, Including Crypto
Google highlighted that AP2 is designed to support a broad spectrum of payment methods, from traditional card payments to next-generation options like stablecoins. An extension called A2A x402, built in partnership with Coinbase, Ethereum Foundation, and MetaMask, allows AI agents to handle cryptocurrency transactions securely within the same framework.
Rao Surapaneni, Vice President and General Manager of Business Applications Platform at Google Cloud, emphasized that the system ensures compliance and security for both merchants and AI agents.
Industry Backs Google’s Move
The launch has already won support from major players across the financial and tech sectors.
- Luke Gebb, EVP of Amex Digital Labs, noted that the rise of AI commerce demands strong safeguards for trust and accountability.
- Erik Reppel, Coinbase’s Head of Engineering, praised the inclusion of x402, saying it shows agent-to-agent payments are moving from experimentation into real-world adoption.
- Ingo Uytdehaage, Co-CEO of Adyen, described AP2 as a “common rulebook” for ensuring security and interoperability across the payments ecosystem.
Other backers include Mastercard, PayPal, Revolut, Salesforce, Worldpay, Accenture, Adobe, Deloitte, and Dell, all of whom see AP2 as a gateway to new opportunities in secure, agent-led commerce—ranging from consumer shopping to enterprise procurement.
Open for Collaboration
In keeping with its open approach, Google has published the technical specifications and reference implementations of AP2 in a public GitHub repository. The company has invited developers, payment providers, and the broader technology community to contribute to its ongoing development.
Why This Matters
With AI increasingly acting on behalf of users—whether scheduling purchases, managing subscriptions, or handling financial tasks—trust and accountability have become urgent priorities. By standardizing how AI agents authorize, authenticate, and execute payments, Google’s AP2 could become a foundational layer for the next era of digital commerce.
As the ecosystem of AI-driven transactions expands, AP2’s adoption by both traditional financial institutions and blockchain innovators signals a future where human intent and machine execution align more securely than ever before.
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