Ant International, an overseas branch of Ant Group, has released the Agentic Mobile Protocol (AMP) as open source, aiming to enable AI-powered agents to make payments autonomously across regional platforms including AlipayHK, Starryblu, KakaoPay, and Toss. This initiative marks a significant step towards integrating AI agents into mainstream mobile payment systems.
- AMP launched as open-source protocol for AI-driven mobile payments
- Supports cross-border transactions via major Asian digital wallets
- Collaborates with Visa and Mastercard on AI agent identity standards
What happened
Ant International, the global affiliate of China’s Ant Group, has open-sourced the Agentic Mobile Protocol (AMP) to allow autonomous AI agents to make purchases on behalf of users via electronic wallets. AMP integrates with the existing Alipay+ network, which already connects 150 million merchants and over 2 billion user accounts across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America. This new protocol aims to make AI agents trusted actors across multiple payment platforms including AlipayHK, Starryblu, KakaoPay, and Toss.
In addition to releasing AMP, Ant International has teamed with Visa and Mastercard to develop a standardized know-your-agent (KYA) framework, which will help securely verify AI agent identities across card networks and digital payment systems globally. The company also built AgentSafePay into AMP, which safeguards merchants with a money-back guarantee for agent-initiated transactions and ensures consumers retain control through clearly defined permission boundaries.
Why it matters
This development signals a major shift in mobile payments by empowering AI agents to execute buying decisions autonomously, potentially transforming how consumers and merchants interact with digital wallets. By establishing AMP as a global standard and leveraging the extensive reach of the Alipay+ network, Ant International aims to accelerate adoption of AI-mediated commerce within Asia’s key markets and beyond.
Security and consumer control remain pivotal concerns in this evolving landscape. AMP’s embedded safety mechanisms and partnerships with established payment giants underscore Ant International’s commitment to mitigating risks while paving the way for AI-driven financial ecosystems. As merchants gradually adapt their services for AI compatibility, this protocol could unlock new efficiencies and consumer engagement in digital commerce.
What to watch next
The adoption rate of AMP by major digital wallet providers across Asia will be a critical factor to monitor, particularly how platforms like AlipayHK, Starryblu, KakaoPay, and Toss integrate autonomous AI agent functionalities. Expansion beyond Asia through collaborations with Visa and Mastercard could also influence worldwide acceptance of AI-enabled payments.
Additionally, consumer response to agent-initiated transactions and the effectiveness of the AgentSafePay guarantee will provide early insight into market readiness and trust levels toward automated spending. Ongoing development of the KYA verification standards will be key to addressing privacy and security challenges as AI agents become more prevalent in payments globally.