Fetch.ai has announced plans to roll out a new payment system in 2026 designed to enable AI agents to autonomously complete transactions, removing the need for constant human approval. The feature, set to launch in January on the ASI:ONE platform, addresses a major barrier to the wider adoption of agentic AI by tackling security, liability, and regulatory risks that currently halt automated payments.
"We’ve been working on it for at least five years, and the reason is because we’re going to see a transition from the web-based economy to an AI-first economy," said Fetch.ai founder and CEO Humayun Sheikh. "And the only way to do that is where AI agents can communicate with each other and transact with each other."
The system is built on existing Visa infrastructure, with Mastercard support expected to follow. To ensure security, it utilizes single-use payment credentials issued by Visa, which are limited to specific amounts and purposes, rather than permanent card numbers. The platform also incorporates an identity layer with KYC (Know Your Customer) elements, requiring agents to act on behalf of identifiable users or businesses, not anonymously.
The functionality will allow AI agents to book services, place orders, and send payments even when a user is offline. Fetch.ai is leveraging established financial providers instead of building proprietary infrastructure. The platform supports both traditional card payments and on-chain transactions using USDC or Fetch.ai's native token, FET. The company has avoided direct bank transfers due to additional regulatory complexity.
The public rollout was delayed to January 2026 to allow for additional checks by Visa. Fetch.ai stated that its agents have already successfully booked restaurant reservations and paid deposits in live tests.
This development comes as retailers like Amazon push back against automated shopping tools that mimic human behavior. Fetch.ai emphasizes its agents are designed for transparency with persistent identities. The announcement also follows internal changes within the Artificial Superintelligence Alliance (ASI), from which Ocean Protocol withdrew in October 2025.
