Alchemy rolls out self-operating payment infrastructure for artificial intelligence agents on Base network
The new infrastructure empowers artificial intelligence agents to independently purchase blockchain information and computational resources using USDC, amid growing adoption of self-governing cryptocurrency platforms.
Infrastructure provider Alchemy, specializing in blockchain services, has rolled out a new platform enabling self-operating artificial intelligence agents to purchase computational resources and utilize its blockchain information services through onchain cryptocurrency wallets and USDC transactions on the Base network.
Based on the firm's official statement, this first version permits artificial intelligence agents to perform direct queries on blockchain systems, verify nonfungible token (NFT) holdings, examine wallet balances spanning numerous blockchain networks and retrieve real-time cryptocurrency price information, with plans to expand to more networks and capabilities in the future.
When an agent depletes its pre-purchased computational credits, Alchemy generates a payment notification that can be settled automatically using USDC on the Base network, enabling the agent to maintain operations without requiring human oversight or involvement.
According to the firm, agents have the capability to finance accounts with a minimum deposit of $1 in USDC, and after crediting, they can proceed with making application programming interface calls until funds run out and another automated transaction becomes necessary.
The infrastructure leverages Coinbase's x402 payment protocol to transform an HTTP "402 Payment Required" server response into an automated billing mechanism. The x402 represents an open-source protocol that enables online services to initiate onchain payment requests directly via HTTP responses, facilitating automated machine-to-machine financial transactions without the need for manual billing processes.
In conversation with Cointelegraph, Nikil Viswanathan, who serves as CEO of Alchemy, explained that the platform targets developers who are creating self-operating decentralized finance (DeFi) agents, automated portfolio management systems and other complex onchain operational sequences.
Viswanathan noted that numerous prominent cryptocurrency platforms, such as Robinhood Crypto, Uniswap, OpenSea, Aave and 0x, currently depend on Alchemy's services to facilitate their transactions, further stating:
Now AI agents can access that same infrastructure autonomously, without a human ever touching it. This is the moment the agentic economy gets its own set of keys.
Crypto companies and developers accelerate agent adoption
Artificial intelligence agents, which are software platforms capable of autonomous decision-making and task execution driven by predetermined objectives and live information feeds, have attracted increasing interest throughout the previous year. Approximately one-quarter (23%) of businesses included in McKinsey's November survey reported that they were scaling up their deployment of agent-powered systems.
On Feb. 6, the artificial intelligence platform AI.com, which was established by Kris Marszalek, CEO of Crypto.com, announced intentions to deploy a self-operating AI agent designed for everyday consumers that will be able to execute equity transactions, automate operational processes and manage common digital activities.
Several days following that announcement, Coinbase unveiled "Agentic Wallets," a cryptocurrency wallet framework engineered to enable AI agents to independently spend, generate income and exchange digital currencies, including performing onchain operations like managing DeFi investment positions, rebalancing investment portfolios and purchasing services.
In parallel developments, the developer community associated with Monad revealed the outcomes of its Moltiverse Hackathon during the current week, selecting 16 winning projects spanning various "agent + token" development categories.
Among the winning submissions were a programmable venture capital agent capable of automated evaluation and investment decisions, artificial intelligence-powered multiplayer combat arenas, an AI-based dating platform where agents "represent their humans," and trading card gaming experiences controlled by software algorithms instead of human participants.
