Agent Payments Protocol (AP2)
The Agent Payments Protocol (AP2) is an open protocol for secure, agent-initiated payments across multiple payment types, including credit and debit cards and stablecoins.
AP2 handles the payment-authorization layer of agentic commerce. It is backed by Google and a coalition of payment networks and processors, and it composes with the Universal Commerce Protocol — UCP orchestrates the broader purchase lifecycle while AP2 serves as the specialized payment layer within it.
The separation matters. By isolating payment authorization into its own protocol, AP2 lets a merchant pair the same payment infrastructure with different commerce protocols and agents — rather than rebuilding payments for each agentic channel.
FAQ
What is the Agent Payments Protocol?
AP2 is an open protocol that enables secure, agent-initiated payments across multiple payment types.
How does AP2 relate to UCP?
UCP orchestrates the full purchase journey; AP2 acts as the specialized payment-authorization layer within it.
Related: Universal Commerce Protocol | Shared Payment Token | Agentic Checkout | Agent Trust Layer
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