Visa, Mastercard Collaborate with Ant International to Develop AI Payment Framework
Visa (V) and Mastercard (MA), alongside fintech firm Ant International, are working on a shared framework called Know Your Agent (KYA) to authenticate AI shopping agents. This initiative aims to ensure that when AI systems handle consumer spending—such as ordering groceries or renewing subscriptions—the transactions still go through their payment networks. The collaboration seeks interoperability across Visa's Trusted Agent Protocol, Mastercard’s Verifiable Intent, and Ant’s Agentic Mobile Protocol. The companies cited McKinsey research projecting $3 trillion to $5 trillion in global consumer commerce could be managed by AI agents by 2030. This move aligns with both firms' broader security strategies as they expand fraud detection capabilities. Visa recently acquired BioCatch for $2.4 billion, while Mastercard reported a 20% year-over-year increase in value-added services revenue. Despite the strategic importance of this development, neither stock has seen an immediate positive reaction from investors. The collaboration also raises questions about consumer trust and oversight when AI handles spending decisions.
Tickers: $MA
Topics: agentic commerce AI Ant International fintech Mastercard Visa