Google Cloud has launched the Agent Payments Protocol (AP2), a new open standard designed to support secure and interoperable payments between AI agents, merchants, and payment providers.
Developed with support from more than 60 organizations including Mastercard, PayPal, Coinbase, Salesforce, and American Express, AP2 creates a shared framework for authorization, accountability, and transaction verification in agent-led commerce.
Google says the protocol supports multiple payment methods including cards, bank transfers, and stablecoins while integrating with Agent2Agent (A2A) and Model Context Protocol (MCP) systems. The initiative reflects the growing shift toward autonomous AI commerce, where intelligent agents can securely complete purchases and financial transactions on behalf of users.
