PayPal and Google Cloud are advancing cryptocurrency for AI agent payments, emphasizing open protocols, machine-readable directories, and multi-party custody. AI agents cannot use traditional bank accounts, making crypto a natural solution. Google’s Agentic Payments Protocol (AP2), now with 120 partners including PayPal, has been donated to the FIDO Foundation. A PayPal survey reveals that 95% of merchants observe AI agent traffic, yet only 20% have implemented machine-readable directories. This AI and crypto development underscores growing infrastructure initiatives.

Executives from PayPal and Google Cloud stated that open payment protocols, machine-readable merchant directories, and multi-party encrypted custody are key to scaling agentive commerce. AI agents cannot use traditional bank accounts, making crypto payments a natural choice. Google has launched the Agentic Payments Protocol (AP2), collaborating with 120 partners—including PayPal—and has donated it to the FIDO Foundation. A PayPal survey found that 95% of merchants encounter AI agent traffic, but only 20% have machine-readable directories.