A Keyrock report indicates blockchain stablecoins are becoming the preferred payment method for AI agents, highlighting significant infrastructure development.
Blockchain-based stablecoins are becoming the leading payment option for AI agents, according to a recent report from Keyrock.
As traditional card systems face challenges with micropayments, AI agents are increasingly utilizing blockchain technology for transactions. Keyrock's analysis reveals that from May 2025 to April 2026, AI agents executed over $73 million in transactions across roughly 176 million blockchain transactions.
While this figure is modest compared to the broader payments landscape—where Visa processes approximately $14.5 trillion annually—it underscores the growing infrastructure being built to support autonomous AI spending. Major companies such as Coinbase, Stripe, Google, and Visa are developing competing systems for machine-to-machine payments.
The report highlights that nearly all AI agent transactions are conducted using USDC, a stablecoin issued by Circle, which raises concerns about the risks of relying heavily on a single stablecoin issuer. The majority of these transactions are low-value, typically ranging from one to ten cents, making traditional payment methods impractical.
Gartner predicts that by 2028, AI agents could facilitate transactions worth $15 trillion, while McKinsey estimates retail agentic commerce could reach between $3 trillion and $5 trillion by 2030. These projections indicate a significant growth trajectory for the agentic payment market, which is evolving rapidly beyond experimental stages.
Among the key innovations, Coinbase's x402 protocol allows AI agents to make payments directly in USDC for services like cloud infrastructure without requiring account setups. Stripe is introducing its Machine Payments Protocol (MPP), and Google is working on a system for delegated spending authorizations for AI agents. Visa is enhancing its card network with tokenized credentials for AI-driven commerce.
As the use of stablecoins and crypto rails expands in autonomous transactions, the economic benefits become evident. With 76% of agent transactions falling below the fixed fee of 30 cents associated with card payments, stablecoin settlements provide a more cost-effective alternative. However, forthcoming regulations in Europe and the U.S. may introduce challenges, as they do not specifically address the complexities of machine-to-machine transactions or related liabilities.
