Coinbase Launches Payments MCP for AI-Driven Blockchain Payments
Coinbase has introduced Payments MCP, a new tool that allows AI systems to send and receive money directly on the blockchain. This tool enables AI agents to create wallets, add funds, and send stablecoins without coding or API keys. Coinbase calls this advancement “agentic commerce,” where machines transact on behalf of users in real time using secure crypto networks.
How Payments MCP Works
Payments MCP is based on x402, Coinbase’s open payment standard inspired by the unused HTTP 402 status code, “Payment Required.” The system supports AI models like Anthropic’s Claude, Google’s Gemini, OpenAI’s Codex, and Cherry Studio. It allows AI agents to make payments and manage blockchain assets using natural language commands. This gives developers and users controlled financial autonomy for AI systems.
Security, Compliance, and Future Outlook
- Users can create wallets using only an email address and start transacting immediately.
- Coinbase has integrated compliance features directly into the platform.
- Coinbase and Cloudflare support the x402 Foundation to keep the protocol open and secure.
- Coinbase expects 2026 to be “the year of agentic payments,” with AI autonomously buying compute and data using stablecoins.
Payments MCP represents a significant step toward enabling AI to participate in the economy by handling real payments independently.
For more details, visit the Coinbase blog post.
