OKX has introduced an open standard for agent-led transactions, rolling out its Agent Payments Protocol (APP) to support full-cycle business activity handled by AI systems. According to OKX, the newly launched protocol extends beyond simple transfers by enabling AI agents to manage commercial processes such as pricing, negotiation, escrow, settlement, and dispute handling.
The exchange said that recent advances have pushed AI agents from basic responses into executing workflows and managing operations, where 'the bottleneck shifted from intelligence to commerce,' adding that existing systems fail to support the full lifecycle of transactions. 'In the past few months, AI agents moved from answering questions to running workflows, managing business processes, and acting autonomously on behalf of users,' OKX stated.
Built as an open standard, APP has been designed to function across multiple blockchains, with Solana and Ethereum identified as key networks in its initial rollout. At the implementation level, OKX said the protocol includes a Payment SDK that allows developers to integrate one-time, batch, and usage-based payments using its X Layer infrastructure, where transactions can be processed with low or no gas costs. Supporting this system, OKX has integrated its self-custodial Agentic Wallet, which uses trusted execution environments and operates across more than 20 chains.
Communication between agents has also been built into the framework. According to OKX, APP connects systems using standard internet protocols such as HTTP and XMTP, while also supporting messaging platforms including Telegram. Planned features include escrow functionality, where funds are released only after delivery conditions are met, alongside built-in dispute resolution mechanisms, both of which the company said are still in development.
The release comes as multiple firms move to define standards for AI-based transactions. Coinbase has launched its x402 protocol to support stablecoin payments between agents, later expanding it through a marketplace that allows AI systems to discover and purchase services without API keys. In March, Visa launched a command-line tool through its crypto division that allows AI systems to execute card payments during development workflows. Separately, Stripe-backed infrastructure has advanced with the launch of the Tempo blockchain and a Machine Payments Protocol. OKX's protocol has received backing from cloud and technology providers, including AWS and Alibaba Cloud, alongside crypto firms such as Nansen, Uniswap, Paxos, and QuickNode. At the blockchain level, OKX said it has worked with ecosystems including Base, the Ethereum Foundation, Solana, Sui, Aptos, and Optimism. OKX CEO Star Xu described the release as 'the key step that brings the Agent economy to real-world implementation.'
