Mastercard and Google launch Verifiable Intent to establish verifiable authorization records for AI agent commerce

Mastercard and Google jointly released the open standard framework Verifiable Intent, designed specifically for the "agent commerce" scenario where AI agents autonomously complete shopping transactions. This framework utilizes cryptographic technology to create tamper-proof authorization records when AI agents execute transactions on behalf of users, integrating identity, intent, and actions into a single privacy-protecting audit trail, addressing the issue where merchants and issuing institutions cannot confirm whether consumers truly authorized a transaction when AI agents place orders autonomously.

The framework employs selective disclosure technology to ensure that parties only receive necessary information and integrates widely adopted industry standards such as those from the FIDO Alliance and EMVCo. Mastercard stated that Verifiable Intent will be integrated into its Agent Pay API in the coming months.

Meanwhile, the cryptocurrency camp is also actively positioning itself. Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong pointed out that while AI agents cannot open bank accounts, they can hold cryptocurrency wallets, indicating that blockchain infrastructure may be more suited to the future of the AI agent economy.