TLDR
Visa says stablecoins suit AI agent micropayments across software networks. Artemis sees hybrid payments combining cards and stablecoins for AI. Stablecoins cut costs for frequent machine-to-machine digital payments. Visa expects cards and stablecoins to operate together in AI commerce. Legal and trust rules remain key hurdles for AI-driven payment systems. Visa and blockchain analytics firm Artemis expect stablecoins to support the next stage of AI-powered digital payments. Their latest research identifies stablecoins as the preferred option for low-cost machine-to-machine transactions.
Meanwhile, traditional card networks will continue handling larger consumer purchases as both payment systems develop together. Stablecoins support machine-native AI payments
Visa and Artemis released a joint report examining payments in the emerging agentic economy. The research explains how AI agents will complete transactions without direct human involvement. It separates future payment activity into macro-commerce and micro-commerce. Macro-commerce covers consumer purchases, including travel bookings and subscription management.
Micro-commerce focuses on repeated software transactions involving very small amounts. The report identifies stablecoins as the practical payment method for these machine-native activities. Traditional payment rails remain effective for larger consumer transactions across merchant networks. However, fixed processing costs reduce efficiency for sub-dollar payments. Stablecoins become a stronger alternative because blockchain settlement costs remain extremely low. Software services increasingly exchange data through API requests and computing resources. These services often require continuous low-value payments during automated operations.
As a result, stablecoins can support frequent transfers without creating excessive transaction costs. Visa expects hybrid payment systems to expand
Visa expects future agentic commerce to combine traditional card payments with blockchain settlement.
More Read
Instead of replacing existing networks, both systems will operate together within shared payment workflows. AI agents will choose the most suitable payment rail for each transaction. Consumer-facing purchases will continue using established card infrastructure because merchants already support those systems.
Stablecoins will settle repeated software payments that require low-cost execution. Hence, each payment method will serve different operational needs inside automated commerce. The report also highlights increasing cooperation between traditional payment companies and blockchain projects.
Card-focused payment protocols now integrate stablecoins into their payment infrastructure. Likewise, crypto-native platforms continue adding stronger trust and verification mechanisms. Visa said its long-term strategy combines traditional authorization with blockchain settlement capabilities. The company also supports interoperability between both payment environments.
Consequently, developers can build payment systems that move smoothly across existing financial infrastructure and blockchain networks. Legal frameworks remain an important challenge
The report identifies trust as one of the biggest barriers facing AI-driven commerce. Existing payment systems assume that humans authorize purchases and accept legal responsibility. Therefore, current regulations do not fully address autonomous software transactions. Existing dispute procedures also reflect traditional consumer payment behavior. Chargeback systems cannot easily manage thousands of automated transactions completed every hour.
Payment providers must develop practical methods for handling disputes involving AI agents. The research builds on Visa’s broader strategy involving AI-powered commerce and blockchain payments. Earlier initiatives introduced tools supporting trusted AI payment experiences and secure authorization processes. Visa expanded partnerships supporting digital asset payments across multiple markets. The company also strengthened its stablecoin strategy through several industry initiatives during recent months. Visa joined the Open Standard consortium alongside Mastercard, Coinbase, and other companies supporting Open USD development.
Furthermore, the company expanded blockchain settlement services while increasing stablecoins adoption through card programs and payment partnerships, reinforcing expectations that stablecoins will support future AI-driven micropayments across global digital commerce.
