AI Agents Set to Drive Rapid Expansion in Machine Payments

A new wave of innovation is emerging in the payments industry, driven by artificial intelligence (AI) technology. A recent report from Keyrock reveals that AI agents are projected to conduct over 176 million transactions on blockchain networks between May 2025 and April 2026, with a total value exceeding $73 million.

The growth of machine-to-machine payments is being led by major players such as Visa, Stripe, Google, and Coinbase. These companies are developing solutions that enable automated payment processing without human intervention. For instance, an AI trading algorithm can continuously buy data, cloud services, or analytics throughout the day with no need for manual approval.

The report highlights the rapid expansion of this sector, with forecasts suggesting that AI-mediated transactions could reach up to $15 trillion annually by 2028. This growth is being driven by the increasing adoption of blockchain technology and stablecoins, which are reducing transaction costs and enabling faster payment processing.