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AI agents can now make purchases using existing Visa cards after Crossmint launched a new payments API built with Visa Intelligent Commerce and Basis Theory. The release gives developers a way to add Visa card payments to AI agents without exposing card numbers or security codes, solving a security and authorization problem that has limited agent-driven commerce.
According to Crossmint, users authorize an eligible Visa card once, after which agents receive limited payment permissions through tokenized credentials rather than direct access to sensitive card data. The company said the system is available through its API and through Lobster.cash, a payment tool that connects to platforms such as Claude Code, OpenClaw, Hermes, and Zo Computer.
AI agents can now pay securely with @Visa cards.
Today we launched the Agentic Cards API, built using @Visa Intelligent Commerce and @basistheory.
— Crossmint (@crossmint) June 2, 2026
The launch targets a problem that has emerged as developers look for ways to let AI agents complete purchases using existing payment networks. While AI agents can already search for information, execute workflows, and interact with software, developers have lacked a widely adopted way to connect those systems to traditional card networks.
Crossmint said a review of published skills on ClawHub, OpenClaw’s marketplace, found insecure credential handling in 7.1% of cases. The company argues that some developers relied on custom payment flows that increased the risk of exposing card credentials.
Under the new system, Visa Intelligent Commerce creates tokenized payment credentials linked to a user’s existing Visa card, while Basis Theory stores sensitive payment information outside the agent environment. Agents receive only the permissions required to complete an approved transaction.
The launch arrives as both crypto and payment companies compete to build financial tools for autonomous software.
Coinbase introduced Agentic Wallets in February 2026, allowing AI agents to hold and spend crypto assets. MoonPay followed in March with an open-source framework for AI-controlled wallets, while Circle released tools in May that enable AI agents to hold wallets and make programmable USDC (USDC) payments.
Crossmint’s approach differs by focusing on existing card networks rather than crypto-only transactions. The company said users can continue using their current Visa cards instead of relying on newly issued payment products.
Adoption of agent-driven payments remains in its early stages despite growing investment in the sector. Payment infrastructure is improving, but developers are still experimenting with how much financial authority consumers are willing to delegate to software agents.
Crossmint’s launch follows a series of AI payment initiatives from Coinbase, MoonPay, Circle, and Visa, highlighting growing efforts to build payment infrastructure for software agents that can transact on a user’s behalf.
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