OKX publishes an open-standard payment protocol for autonomous AI agents
Cryptocurrency exchange OKX has launched an open payment protocol for artificial intelligence agents, joining a growing push by crypto and payment companies to build an infrastructure that allows software agents to pay for services and transact with minimal human input.
The new Cross-Chain Agent Payments Protocol (APP) is designed to enable agents to operate and communicate autonomously. OKX announced on Wednesday that the cross-chain level can handle agent-to-agent payments, recurring or bulk payment flows and other automated payment arrangements in business processes. The agency also allows agents to negotiate with each other, hide funds and release them on the basis of proven performance.
The OKX framework is built around the agency's self-managed Wallet and Payment SDK with X Layer support and cross-chain implementation. The company is developing the protocol as a way for AI agents to move from simple payment requests to autonomous business operations.
It began as competition intensified to build payment gateways for AI agents. Google has introduced the AP2 protocol, Coinbase has the x402 standard, and Visa and Stripe-related efforts have also moved into the space, as companies seem to be trying to quickly define machine-to-machine transaction paths.
APP compared to existing payment protocols. Source: OKX
OKX is an end-to-end AI agent targeting the business.
OKX is positioning the app as a broader business layer than a simple payment button.
The company says AI agents can request real-time market data feeds, while the service responds with an HTTP 402 payment request, and agents are automatically billed per call.
Related: Stablecoin Issuers and Fintechs Race to Own Payment Ways
Agencies can then hire a special sub-agent to complete the research, the APP will open an escrow account, and the work will be released upon receipt of payment.
OKX AI agent framework. Source: OKX
Developers can use the OKX payment tools on the X Layer, the company said that some stable coin transfers can be done without gas fees.
The growing race to enable machine payments could support the use of Statcoin because it could help unlock machine-to-machine payments by implementing microtransactions and enabling payments between software agents without the need for a human to run a program, Bernstein said in March.
Magazine: Crypto wanted to topple banks, now they're in the fight for stablecoins
