Google Works with Coinbase and Mastercard on AI Payment Solution

The payments industry is shifting fast, and Google is leading a new chapter by linking artificial intelligence with stablecoin technology. A fresh collaboration called the Agent Payments Protocol (AP2) is bringing together some of the biggest names in finance and tech.
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Good to know

• AP2 is open source, mixing AI with stablecoin transactions.
• Partners include Google, Mastercard, Coinbase, American Express, PayPal, Salesforce, Etsy, and more.
• The project aims to make agent-to-agent crypto payments secure, simple, and scalable.

Google’s new project is more than just another payments app. AP2 was designed as an open framework where AI agents can interact and move money, whether through traditional rails or crypto solutions like stablecoins. The idea is simple: let machines handle transactions with the same security standards that people expect when swiping a card or sending a bank transfer.

Major players signed on early. Coinbase, American Express, Mastercard, PayPal, Intuit, Salesforce, and Etsy are all backing the protocol, which signals strong support from both the tech and payments world.

Coinbase has been deeply involved in the protocol’s structure. Erik Reppel, Head of Engineering at Coinbase Developer Platform, explained the importance of merging its x402 technology into AP2:

“x402 and AP2 show that agent-to-agent payments aren’t just an experiment anymore, they’re becoming part of how developers actually build. Bringing x402 into AP2 to power stablecoin payments made sense – it’s a natural playground for agents to start transacting with each other and testing out crypto rails. And it’s exciting to see the idea of agents paying each other resonate with the broader AI community.”

For developers, this means the future of payments won’t be limited to apps and user interfaces. Instead, software agents can now directly handle money transfers, opening the door for automation in areas like digital marketplaces, subscriptions, and even peer-to-peer crypto transfers.

Security remains at the center of AP2, and Mastercard’s voice in the project reinforces that. Pablo Fourez, Chief Digital Officer at Mastercard, shared the company’s perspective:

“Mastercard is committed to ongoing, responsible innovation – and we are excited to be collaborating with Google, leading banks, merchants, AI platforms and other industry leaders to help shape the future of agentic commerce. These efforts include critical work with standards bodies such as the FIDO Alliance, where we are advancing verifiable credentials to capture and secure consumers’ intent in this dynamic new context. Together, we’re playing an essential role in securing the payments ecosystem – ensuring that trust and safety remain at the core of every transaction.”

That focus on verifiable credentials is key. If AI is handling transactions, consumers need assurance that funds are moving with proper authorization. Mastercard’s involvement gives the protocol a layer of credibility that will matter for adoption.