Coinbase Builds Accounts For Autonomous AI
Coinbase is developing financial infrastructure for artificial intelligence (AI) agents to hold and manage money independently. The project, referred to as Coinbase for Agents, would provide AI with isolated accounts, spending limits, and autonomous control over approved funds.
According to CEO Brian Armstrong, the system would allow models such as ChatGPT or Claude to interact with Coinbase through tools including a local Model Context Protocol server. This approach could make cryptocurrency particularly useful for software that needs to purchase digital services, subscriptions, or other resources automatically.
Coinbase has also been exploring this area through x402, a protocol designed to facilitate pay-per-request transactions using digital assets. With this model, an AI agent can pay for individual actions directly from its cryptocurrency balance rather than repeatedly requesting API credentials or human approval.