Alchemy has rolled out a new system that allows artificial intelligence agents to independently purchase computing credits and retrieve blockchain network data without any human involvement. The setup relies on on-chain wallets and payments made in USDC on Coinbase’s Base network. With this launch, routine tasks such as billing approvals, balance checks, and payment execution are handled entirely by software, removing manual intervention and operational downtime.
Under this framework, an AI agent can independently query blockchain networks, confirm wallet balances across chains, validate non-fungible token ownership, or retrieve real-time token pricing. Once its prepaid compute credits are depleted, the system automatically generates a payment request. The agent then settles that request on its own using USDC, after which operations continue without disruption. Developers can fund accounts with as little as one dollar in USDC, allowing agents to run continuously through repeated automated payment cycles.
How the x402 Standard Powers Machine Payments
At the technical core of this system is Coinbase’s x402 payment standard. This approach repurposes the long-standing HTTP 402 Payment Required response code into an on-chain billing trigger. When a service needs to charge for usage, it sends a payment request directly through standard web protocols. The AI agent recognizes the request and responds by transmitting a crypto payment automatically.
This design enables true machine-to-machine commerce. There is no approval workflow, no manual reconciliation, and no operational pause. By embedding payments directly into internet communication layers, Alchemy’s system allows autonomous software to both consume services and pay for them in real time.
Starting today, agents can autonomously access blockchain data across 100+ networks, paying in @USDC via @coinbase's x402 standard. No human required. 🧵 https://t.co/VY8OlVoGky
— Alchemy (@Alchemy) February 26, 2026
Implications for Developers and DeFi Automation
According to Nikil Viswanathan, the initiative is aimed squarely at developers creating autonomous decentralized finance agents, portfolio management bots, and complex on-chain workflows. He indicated that applications such as Robinhood Crypto, Uniswap, OpenSea, Aave, and 0x already depend on Alchemy’s infrastructure. With the new payment system, AI agents can now tap into the same backbone without human oversight at any stage.
The launch aligns with growing enterprise interest in agent-based automation. Data published by McKinsey in November showed that nearly one-quarter of surveyed organizations had expanded their use of autonomous agents, signaling a broader shift toward software-driven decision-making and execution.
A Broader Industry Shift Toward Agentic Systems
Other major players are moving in a similar direction. Coinbase recently unveiled Agentic Wallets, an infrastructure designed to let AI agents spend, earn, and manage digital assets independently, including handling DeFi strategies and portfolio rebalancing. Separately, AI.com, founded by Crypto.com CEO Kris Marszalek, disclosed plans to introduce an AI agent for retail users capable of executing stock trades and automating everyday digital tasks.
Innovation is also accelerating at the community level. The Monad ecosystem recently shared outcomes from its Moltiverse Hackathon, where multiple winning projects combined AI agents with token-based incentives. These included autonomous venture capital agents, AI-managed competitive gaming environments, and software-governed trading card games.
From Experiment to Infrastructure
Collectively, these developments indicate that autonomous AI agents have moved beyond experimental use cases. By giving them a native, automated payment mechanism, Alchemy has removed a critical bottleneck. The result is an environment where software can independently consume services, pay for resources, and operate continuously on blockchain networks, marking a significant step toward fully autonomous digital economies.
