Visa Sees Stablecoins as Key Component of AI-Driven Payment Ecosystem

Visa has outlined a vision for the future of payments in an AI-driven economy. According to a report published by Visa and blockchain analytics firm Artemis, stablecoins will play a central role in micropayments within this new framework.

The report divides the AI agent economy into two categories: macro commerce and micro commerce. Macro commerce refers to routine transactions performed on behalf of users, such as bookings and subscription payments. Micro commerce covers frequent sub-$1 transactions, including API calls and the use of AI computing resources.

Visa is focused on micro commerce, where traditional card networks are ill-equipped to handle small transactions due to high fees. Stablecoins, by contrast, can significantly reduce transaction costs, making them a more practical alternative for very small payments.

The report proposes a hybrid payment structure that combines traditional payment networks with stablecoins. Card payments would handle authentication and consumer payments within existing merchant networks, while stablecoins would be used for real-time settlement between AI agents.