The tech giant Google has introduced a new open protocol, the Agent Payments Protocol (AP2), designed to optimize payments between artificial intelligence (AI) applications. The protocol supports both traditional payment methods, including credit and debit cards, and stablecoins that are pegged to fiat currencies. This enables AI agents to conduct autonomous transactions quickly and securely, opening up new opportunities for AI-driven commerce.
To implement stablecoin support, Google has teamed up with the cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase, which has developed its own AI and crypto payment system. Additionally, the company is collaborating with the Ethereum Foundation and over 60 organizations, including Salesforce, American Express, and Etsy, to ensure compatibility and security. Together with Coinbase and Lowe’s Innovation Labs, a demonstration project has been created where AI agents plan tasks, build a shopping cart, and make payments using stablecoins.
AP2 is built with existing payment systems and future technologies in mind, such as stablecoins, providing "mandates" for secure payments on behalf of users. The protocol focuses on trust and universality, allowing AI agents to interact across platforms. As Eric Reppel, head of the developer platform engineering at Coinbase, noted: "We are all working to understand how to make AI beneficial to each other." James Tromans, head of Web3 at Google Cloud, added: "We built it from the ground up, considering both the legacy and existing capabilities of payment systems, as well as future capabilities like stablecoins."
Google is actively developing its blockchain ecosystem. In August 2025, the company launched the Google Cloud Universal Ledger — a level-one blockchain aimed at optimizing digital payments in financial institutions. It is currently operating in a closed test network, with plans for a public launch in the coming months. As a crypto market analyst, I’ll note that the integration of stablecoins into AI payments could accelerate the mass adoption of cryptocurrencies, reducing volatility and increasing transaction efficiency in decentralized systems. This partnership underscores the growing role of blockchain in traditional technologies, potentially impacting stock prices, as indicated by current changes: GOOGL -0.18%, COIN +0.27%.