OKX Bets AI Can Negotiate Deals on Its Own, Launches Agent Payment Protocol

Author: OKX

Compiled by: TechFlow

TechFlow Intro: OKX has launched the Agent Payments Protocol (APP), enabling AI agents not only to make payments but also to quote prices, negotiate, hire other agents, and hold funds in escrow. This marks a leap from “payment tools” to “commercial entities.” Backed by over 20 institutions—including the Ethereum Foundation, Solana, and Uniswap—APP aims to establish infrastructure standards ahead of the AI economy’s explosive growth.

Today, we are launching the Agent Payments Protocol (APP), a new open standard defining how agents communicate and negotiate, pay for services, and transact with one another. For the first time, agents can go beyond simple payments to conduct full-fledged commerce—handling tasks such as drafting quotes, hiring experts, holding funds in escrow, and resolving disputes. Escrow and dispute resolution functionality is coming soon.

Enabling the Full Commercial Lifecycle—for the First Time

When we consider the complexity of human commerce and trade today, it involves far more than a single transaction. Humans quote, negotiate, change their minds, choose different payment methods—and sometimes even end up in disputes. APP addresses these needs and behaviors, fundamentally transforming agent capabilities. It seeks to replace closed payment networks—designed for human-authorized processes and transactions—with open infrastructure and tools built specifically for machines, which will power the agent economy.

APP empowers agents in three key ways:

• Agents operate and communicate autonomously across the entire commercial lifecycle
• Agents can pay each other (as well as service providers and merchants)
• Agents can pay in multiple ways—such as prepaid, top-up deductions, or scheduled payments

How APP Improves Existing Agent Payment Solutions

An Open Standard Built for Every Builder in the Agent Economy

Some of the internet’s greatest breakthroughs—like email and web browsing—succeeded because they were built on open rules rather than closed products. In that same spirit, APP is an open protocol. It is designed to become the new standard for agent commerce, built for every builder and agent across all major blockchains. Solana, Ethereum, and any other chain can implement compatible versions.

From day one, we welcome influential development teams—including the Ethereum Foundation, Uniswap, and Solana—who share our vision for an open agent economy. Their participation signals what lies ahead, and we invite more builders, developers, and agents to deploy, contribute to, and extend APP.

Launch partners and ecosystem members include:

AWS, Alibaba Cloud, Ethereum Foundation, Solana, Base, Sui, Optimism, Aptos, Pharos, Paxos, Uniswap, MoonPay, Nansen, Kite AI, Sahara AI, Zerion, AltLayer, Meshpay, Surf, Teneo Protocol, QuickNode, 0G Labs, Pieverse, RootData

To get started with APP, read our documentation and whitepaper.

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