Alchemy, the blockchain infrastructure firm, has unveiled a virtual payment card built on Visa’s network. The card is designed specifically for AI agents — software bots that can now spend money on their own.
How the card works
The card lets AI agents make payments directly, without human intervention. It’s a virtual Visa card, meaning it works anywhere Visa is accepted. Alchemy handles the backend, linking the card to the agent’s wallet or funding source. The company says the card can be used for subscriptions, API calls, cloud computing costs, or any other digital purchase the agent needs to complete a task.
Why AI agents need their own payment method
Until now, AI agents — from trading bots to automated content generators — relied on humans to manually enter credit card details or approve each transaction. That slowed them down. A dedicated card means agents can act autonomously, paying for tools and services in real time. It’s a step toward fully automated machine-to-machine commerce, where agents negotiate and pay for resources without a person in the loop.
Alchemy’s place in the ecosystem
Alchemy is best known for providing node infrastructure and developer tools for blockchains like Ethereum and Solana. This card extends their reach into the traditional payments world, marrying Visa’s rails with the programmable logic of crypto wallets. The company hasn’t disclosed whether the card uses stablecoins or fiat behind the scenes, but the Visa branding suggests it clears through standard card networks.
What’s next
Alchemy has not announced a launch date or pricing for the card. Developers interested in integrating it into their AI agents can sign up on the company’s site. The bigger question — how quickly businesses will trust autonomous agents to spend their budgets — remains open.
