The financial market is on the threshold of a revolution in which not people, but artificial intelligence will initiate and finalize transactions. The latest Tiger Research report shows that both technology giants such as Google and the decentralized crypto sector are already building advanced payment infrastructure for AI agents. This clash of two visions will decide who will take control of the automated trading of the future.
The end of the human monopoly on payments
Tools such as ChatGPT or Gemini are excellent at processing information, but for full autonomy they lack a key element, which is the ability to independently dispose of capital. Open-source projects such as OpenClaw already allow artificial intelligence to manage calendars or handle e-mail, but at the very end of the purchasing process there must still be a human clicking the authorization button. Analysts suggest this state of affairs will soon change as the market demands systems designed from the ground up for non-human entities.
The Big Tech approach, i.e. security in a closed ecosystem
Technology corporations focus on integrating new solutions with existing architecture. Google introduced the AP2 protocol at the beginning of 2025, which divides the transaction into three separate stages, including determining the user’s purchasing intention, cart configuration and the payment itself. This system is based on proven payment solutions, which minimizes friction and facilitates quick implementation.
However, this architecture is strictly controlled and payments made by AI agents are limited to verified business partners. The Silicon Valley giants argue this with the need to protect consumers, because possible algorithm errors could burden infrastructure providers. A closed ecosystem guarantees a high level of stability, but this comes at the cost of lack of openness to the broader market.
The crypto sector focuses on independence and open protocols
The cryptocurrency industry approaches the problem from a completely different angle, building an infrastructure based on open standards and the lack of centralized intermediaries. The foundation of this approach is two key technical solutions that allow AI agents to conclude contracts unattended. The ERC-8004 standard serves as a digital proof of identity, taking the form of an NFT token that stores the history and reputation of a given program. In turn, the x402 protocol, developed by the Coinbase exchange, is a payment bus enabling settlements based on automated smart contracts.
When two AI agents meet on a digital marketplace, they first verify their identity and accumulated funds, and then lock their capital in a deposit contract. Payment is only released automatically when certain conditions are met, for example when delivery of a digital good is confirmed. This entire process takes place without platform authorization, which fits perfectly into the fundamental assumptions of Web3.
Which vision will dominate the market?
The data shows that both sides have their own unique advantages. Centralized corporate models will probably work well for everyday, routine purchases within large retail chains. However, in the case of programmable micropayments, where artificial intelligence will have to, for example, buy a thousand generated images for just USD 0.01 each, traditional infrastructure may turn out to be too expensive and inefficient.
This is where open crypto protocols offer the most added value due to their lack of entry barriers and global reach. Experts predict that in the long term we will not see a zero-sum game, but rather gradual integration and building bridges between closed Big Tech systems and decentralized on-chain solutions.
