Google launches Agent Payments Protocol to standardize AI-led transactions

Google has introduced the Agent Payments Protocol (AP2), an open framework designed to support payments initiated by AI agents. The initiative, developed with more than 60 technology and financial organizations, seeks to create a common standard for verifying, authorizing, and completing transactions carried out autonomously by software agents.

The rise of AI agents capable of acting on behalf of consumers and businesses challenges the assumptions built into existing payment systems, which are based on direct human interaction. Traditional models assume that a person actively confirms a purchase, but autonomous agents now require protocols that can confirm whether a transaction was authorized, whether it accurately reflects user intent, and who holds responsibility in cases of errors or fraud.

AP2 is designed to work alongside existing standards, including the Agent2Agent (A2A) and Model Context Protocol (MCP). Together, these frameworks provide a shared foundation for interoperability across payments, data exchanges, and agent-to-agent communications.

At the center of AP2 are Mandates, cryptographically signed digital contracts that serve as verifiable proof of a user’s intent and instructions.

• In real-time purchases, a user request—such as asking an AI agent to find a product—creates an Intent Mandate. Once the agent presents a purchase option, the user approves it through a Cart Mandate, which securely links the payment method and establishes an unchangeable record of the items and price.
• In delegated tasks, where a user is not present, an Intent Mandate is signed in advance with detailed conditions, such as price limits or timing. Once those conditions are met, the agent can automatically generate a Cart Mandate and complete the transaction.

This sequence forms a complete audit trail, providing evidence of authorization and accountability throughout the payment process.

AP2 is payment-agnostic, supporting methods ranging from credit and debit cards to real-time bank transfers, stablecoins, and other digital assets. To further integrate web3 capabilities, Google has worked with Coinbase, MetaMask, the Ethereum Foundation, and others to extend AP2 through the A2A x402 extension, enabling secure crypto-based agent transactions.

The protocol is being launched with the backing of a broad range of partners, including American Express, Mastercard, PayPal, Revolut, Intuit, Salesforce, Etsy, Worldpay, and Coinbase. Participants represent payment networks, fintechs, merchants, and software providers, signaling early industry alignment around agent-led commerce infrastructure.

Beyond consumer purchases, AP2 is being positioned for broader use cases such as:

• Enterprise procurement, where companies can enable agents to autonomously buy software solutions via marketplaces.
• Automated licensing, where systems can adjust usage and billing dynamically in response to real-time demand.
• Personalized commerce, where agents can negotiate offers or monitor availability and pricing based on user-defined conditions.

Google has published the full technical specification for AP2, along with documentation and reference implementations, on its public GitHub repository. The company expects the protocol to evolve in collaboration with standards bodies and contributions from the wider payments and technology ecosystem.