Visa has launched a new “Agentic Ready” programme in Singapore, bringing together 13 banks and fintech firms to test AI-driven payments where software agents can initiate transactions on behalf of users.
The initiative stands as one of the clearest moves yet toward automated commerce, with financial institutions including DBS Bank, HSBC, Standard Chartered, and crypto-linked firm StraitsX participating in early trials.
Agentic payments are moving from theory to real-world pilots, where AI agents handle financial tasks automatically. These agents can get invoices, verify them, and execute payments, especially in complex B2B workflows. The focus is on improving efficiency while maintaining strong security and oversight through rule-based systems. Early pilots, led by companies like Visa, aim to reduce manual work and shift finance teams toward managing AI-driven processes instead of doing transactions themselves.
We’re excited to join the @Visa Agentic Ready program, a global initiative preparing the ecosystem for agentic commerce using tokens, identity, and risk controls.
As our CEO @Tian_wei notes, X402 and Machine Payments Protocol (MPP) are key to this shift. We are working to enable… pic.twitter.com/ob64bHPYAW
— StraitsX (@StraitsX) April 30, 2026
Pilot focuses on secure AI-driven payments
The programme is designed to test “agent-initiated” payments in a controlled environment, where AI systems can discover products, make decisions, and complete transactions while users retain final control.
Visa is positioning its infrastructure, including tokenization, identity verification, and risk controls, as the foundation for this shift. The goal is to ensure automated payments can operate securely before scaling to wider use.
Singapore was selected due to high AI adoption, with a large share of users already relying on AI tools for online shopping. Early testing has focused on everyday payment scenarios, building on prior pilot work between Visa and DBS.
Stablecoins and tokenized payments enter the mix
Beyond traditional banking players, the inclusion of firms like StraitsX signals growing overlap between AI payments and crypto infrastructure. The company is exploring stablecoin-based settlement and machine-to-machine payment protocols as part of the pilot.
Visa says the broader plan is to connect AI-driven commerce with its global merchant network, enabling seamless payments across both fiat and tokenized systems. New tools under its “Intelligent Commerce” suite aim to support secure payment initiation, authentication, and spend controls within AI-led transactions.
Notably, Visa launched stablecoin payout capabilities through its partnership with UK-based stablecoin infrastructure provider BVNK, enabling millions of merchants worldwide to receive payments directly in stablecoins.
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