MoonPay has launched PayBox, a service that integrates a crypto wallet directly into AI assistants such as Claude and ChatGPT. The move lets those AI agents autonomously move money on behalf of users — but the user keeps control.
How PayBox works
PayBox embeds a non-custodial wallet into the AI assistant's interface. When a user gives permission, the AI can initiate transactions — paying for subscriptions, tipping content creators, or buying digital goods — without the user having to manually approve each step. MoonPay says the wallet is designed to work with the assistant's natural language capabilities, so a user might say “send 0.1 ETH to that artist” and the AI handles the rest.
The integration marks a shift in how crypto payments could reach mainstream users. AI assistants are already embedded in millions of daily workflows. By giving them the ability to transact, MoonPay is effectively turning every chatbot into a potential payment terminal. The timing isn't accidental — AI agents are increasingly being asked to perform tasks that involve spending, from booking travel to managing subscriptions.
User control remains central
MoonPay stressed that the user retains ultimate authority. The wallet is non-custodial, meaning MoonPay never holds the private keys. Users set spending limits and can revoke the AI's access at any time. Each transaction still requires a user's explicit approval unless they've pre-authorized a specific scope. That design tries to balance convenience with security — a tension that's tripped up earlier attempts at automated crypto payments.
PayBox is available now for users of Claude and ChatGPT who hold a MoonPay account. The company hasn't said whether it plans to expand to other AI platforms, but the architecture is built to be assistant-agnostic. For now, the service is limited to supported cryptocurrencies and networks that MoonPay already processes.
