The upcoming phase in agentic commerce might focus more on wallet control rather than traditional browsing or checkout processes. Coinbase has introduced agentic wallets designed as comprehensive money management tools where AI agents can make payments, trade tokens, and earn yield investments independently of constant human intervention.

Adding Financial Functionalities

The goal is to integrate financial features into any AI agent through a plug-and-play wallet solution. This allows for continuous operation by AI agents that operate without sleep, enabling them to seek out opportunities and respond in real time.

According to Joel Hugentobler, Cryptocurrency Analyst at Javelin Strategy & Research, “This development significantly enhances stablecoin usage and can automate DeFi activities and other on-chain transactions.”

Hugentobler also noted that, “There is potential for Base, Coinbase’s native chain, to see increased activity as a result. However, strong controls are necessary to prevent misuse or compromise of AI agents, as errors and losses could accumulate quickly.”

Minimal Human Intervention

Since the inception of agentic commerce, security and accuracy have been paramount, given that AI systems need minimal human supervision to function effectively. This has led to concerns about potential disruptions in the retail landscape and misuse risks.

In response, Coinbase has implemented safeguards such as spending limits and session controls within its agentic wallets to keep agents on task. Users will also have an interface for monitoring agent status, funding wallets, and issuing new instructions.

Building Shared Language

As more financial entities recognize the importance of supporting AI agents, efforts like the x402 protocol from Coinbase are gaining traction. This protocol uses the HTTP “402 Payment Required” code for instant stablecoin transactions and has facilitated 50 million transactions since its launch last year.