Fetch.ai is preparing to enable AI to make autonomous payments on behalf of users starting in 2026.

Autonomous AI agents are increasingly skilled at searching and suggesting shopping options, but most still stop at the checkout step. Fetch.ai announced it will deploy a new payment system in 2026, allowing AI to make purchases and send money on behalf of users.

The feature is expected to launch in January 2026 to address one of the biggest barriers to the widespread adoption of AI agents. Currently, consumer-facing systems can suggest flights, hotels, or services, but almost all still require real-time human approval before processing payments due to security risks, legal liability, and compliance.

Humayun Sheikh, founder and CEO of Fetch.ai, said the issue is not about access to payment infrastructure but how AI systems are designed.

“We’ve been working on this for at least five years because the economy is shifting from web-first to AI-first,” Sheikh said. “And that can only happen when AI agents can communicate and transact directly with each other.”

Payments for AI, even when users are offline

The new payment function is integrated into Fetch.ai’s ASI:ONE platform, allowing AI agents to book services, create orders, and transfer money even when users are offline. The company plans to collaborate with existing financial institutions instead of building its own infrastructure.

“According to Sheikh, ‘railways’ for payments are necessary but not sufficient if the system only handles individual tasks. That’s also why systems like ChatGPT cannot directly buy and sell.”

Fetch.ai is integrating with Visa’s system, adding layers of trust, security, and KYC. Although the technology is ready, deployment has been postponed to January to allow Visa to perform additional checks. Support from Mastercard is expected to follow.

To reduce risks, the system uses one-time payment information instead of fixed card numbers. Visa will provide temporary details that only allow transactions within specified value and purpose limits.

Supporting traditional cards and on-chain transactions

The platform supports both traditional card payments and on-chain transactions using USDC or FET, Fetch.ai’s native token. The company avoids direct bank transfers due to more complex legal requirements.

Fetch.ai also incorporates an identity layer, requiring agents to operate on behalf of verifiable users or businesses, rather than anonymously. This approach comes amid resistance from many retail platforms against automated shopping tools that mimic human behavior.

Recently, Amazon sent a letter demanding Perplexity cease its Comet tool, accusing the AI of impersonating shoppers and violating terms of service. Sheikh said Fetch.ai’s agents are designed to operate transparently, with persistent identities linked to specific users.

“When an agent is not active, for example due to a local server going offline, it still has a ‘mailbox’. When back online, it checks messages, interprets them, and executes actions,” Sheikh explained.

Internal context and long-term vision

The deployment occurs amid turbulence within the Artificial Superintelligence (ASI) alliance, founded by Fetch.ai along with SingularityNET and Ocean Protocol in 2024. In October 2025, Ocean withdrew from the alliance over disagreements about fund management and token bridge closure.

Despite this, Fetch.ai remains committed to a model that allows users and businesses to operate their own agents independently, rather than relying on centralized platforms.

“We provide the architecture so everyone can own and operate their agents,” Sheikh said. “Each agent represents a specific user.”