In early 2026, a significant milestone was achieved in the realms of AI agents and stablecoins, prompting MoonPay to take proactive measures. Since its establishment in 2019, MoonPay has expanded its customer base to over 30 million across 180 countries while servicing more than 500 enterprise clients. The company has successfully integrated solutions for on- and off-ramps, trading, crypto payments, and stablecoin infrastructure into a single platform.
The introduction of MoonPay Agents is not merely the product of speculative development; it emerges from a well-established operator deeply embedded within global digital asset ecosystems. This context underscores MoonPay’s strategic importance in the evolving landscape of digital finance.
In a marked shift, MoonPay has formalized access to capital for programmable systems, thereby linking financial assets with AI capability. With the launch of its software layer supporting non-custodial wallets through MoonPay CLI, verified agents can now trade, swap, and manage digital assets programmatically. CEO Ivan Soto-Wright emphasized that while AI agents possess reasoning abilities, they cannot perform economic actions without the necessary capital infrastructure, marking a crucial bridge between cognition and execution.
This launch coincides with notable advancements in infrastructure, particularly the introduction of x402, which allows wallet-authenticated HTTP payments using USDC, eliminating the need for API keys. Quicknode’s support for x402 across over 80 blockchain networks, coupled with a reported 10,000% increase in agent transactions on Coinbase’s Payments MCP on the Base platform, signals a rapid acceleration in machine-driven settlements.
Stablecoins are transforming traditional settlement approaches, drastically altering transaction costs. While card networks typically charge 2% to 3.5% per transaction, stablecoin transfers settle in seconds for a fraction of a cent, despite remittance fees averaging 6.6%. The volume of stablecoin transactions soared to $33 trillion in 2025, reflecting a 72% year-on-year increase, pushing the total supply beyond $300 billion. Projections from McKinsey & Company indicate that real-world stablecoin payments could near $390 billion annually, with Citi forecasting a supply of $1.9 trillion by 2030.
Moreover, institutional adoption of stablecoins has transitioned from theoretical discussions to practical applications. Research from Fireblocks highlights that nearly half of institutions currently utilize stablecoins for transactions, with over 80% reporting that their infrastructure is ready for deployment. The demand for and issuance of agent tokens surged, with 21,000 tokens minted in November 2024 alone.
The market reacted sharply to these developments, with notable declines for major payment processors: Visa saw a fall of 4.6%, Mastercard dropped 5.7%, and American Express slid by 7.2%. A thesis from Bull Theory suggests that AI’s ability to select optimal settlement routes could further compress the margins of traditional financial institutions.
However, challenges remain within the regulatory landscape. Banks exhibit resistance to yield-bearing stablecoins due to concerns over deposit migration, while regulators are increasingly focusing on reserve backing and compliance issues. Despite these hurdles, traditional financial entities are quietly integrating stablecoin infrastructure, indicating a shift from resistance to adaptation within the industry.
In summary, MoonPay’s introduction of MoonPay Agents represents a strategic move to provide autonomous AI systems with access to capital through innovative, non-custodial wallet and programmable infrastructure. Leveraging its expansive user base and enterprise partnerships, MoonPay continues to play a pivotal role in integrating AI into established crypto payment frameworks.
