Google has unveiled the Agent Payments Protocol (AP2), a new open framework built to secure payments carried out by AI agents across different platforms.
Developed in partnership with more than 60 major companies—including Mastercard, PayPal, UnionPay, American Express, Coinbase, and Worldpay—the protocol creates a safe, consistent way for users, merchants, and payment providers to transact without fear of fraud.
Today’s payment systems assume a human is clicking “buy” on a trusted platform. But with AI agents now making purchases on behalf of users, the risks multiply. Who authorises the transaction? How do we confirm intent? Who bears responsibility when something goes wrong?
AP2 aims to answer these questions by providing a single standard across industries. It supports multiple payment types—cards, stablecoins, and bank transfers—ensuring transactions remain secure and accountable.
How the Protocol Works
At the core of AP2 are Mandates—cryptographically-signed digital contracts that prove user intent. Each mandate is backed by verifiable credentials, ensuring transactions cannot be tampered with.
Two shopping scenarios are covered:
- Real-time purchases: When a user approves a cart, a Cart Mandate locks the items and price, creating an unchangeable audit trail.
- Delegated tasks: If a user asks an agent to “buy concert tickets once they go on sale,” a pre-signed Intent Mandate ensures the agent buys only within specified rules.
This chain of evidence answers key questions of authorisation, authenticity, and accountability.
Unlocking New Commerce Possibilities
AP2’s flexibility could power new shopping experiences. For instance, agents may automatically buy hard-to-find products, negotiate bundles with discounts, or coordinate bookings within a set budget.
It also supports next-generation payments. In partnership with Coinbase, Ethereum Foundation, and MetaMask, Google has extended AP2 with the A2A x402 extension, enabling secure crypto and stablecoin payments.
Google is inviting the payments and technology community to build on AP2. Partners will make their AI agents available in the Google AI Agent Marketplace, allowing uses from consumer shopping to enterprise procurement on Google Cloud.
The technical specification and reference implementations are open for developers on GitHub. More updates and community contributions will shape its future growth.
Rate, Like 👍, Comment💬, share this article and Follow us on our social media handles. You can also Submit your own story to get featured and earn rewards!
WhatsApp Channel
Telegram Channel
