Agent Payments Protocol (AP2)
Open protocol for agent-led payments in which the user's authorization is carried as cryptographically signed Mandates that merchants and payment networks can independently verify.
Description
AP2 is a Google-led open protocol (Apache-2.0) extending A2A and MCP to payments. Its core construct is the Mandate: a tamper-proof, cryptographically signed verifiable digital credential that proves a user's instructions. It defines Intent Mandates (the conditions under which an agent may purchase, signed upfront for delegated autonomous spend), Cart Mandates (explicit authorization of exact items and price in real time), and Payment Mandates (shared with networks to signal agent involvement). Launched with 60+ partners including Mastercard, PayPal, American Express, Adyen, and Coinbase.
Solution
Payment-authorization protocol rather than a single agent loop. Step 1: the user signs a Mandate — an Intent Mandate stating conditions for delegated spend, or a Cart Mandate approving exact items and price. Step 2: the agent builds a transaction and attaches the covering mandate. Step 3: the merchant verifies the signature and that the charge falls within the mandate. Step 4: the Payment Mandate is shared with the network, which re-verifies and settles, leaving a non-repudiable trail.
Primary use cases
- agent-initiated checkout with verifiable user authorization
- delegated autonomous purchasing under a signed Intent Mandate
- cross-network payment with non-repudiable proof for dispute resolution
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