Pay it Forward: The Rise of Agentic Payments On-Chain
From FCAT Crypto Brief™ by Fidelity Center for Applied Technology
April 8, 2026 · 32 min · Episode 116
About this episode
This episode explores the concept of agentic payments executed by autonomous AI systems and the implications for technology's role in the economy.
For much of the internet’s history, technology has supported human transactions. Increasingly, it’s executing them directly. On this episode of the Crypto Brief, our hosts examine agentic payments: transactions executed by autonomous AI systems. Based on pre-programmed directives, these agents discover services, access resources, and settle payments without hands-on human involvement. This discussion uncovers what becomes possible when technology participates in the economy as an actor, and what new obligations emerge for the people designing—and overseeing—those systems. Episode Topics: [0:00] Intro [1:22] Defining AI Agents [2:14] Trends in Agentic Payments [11:15] Products, Protocols & Partnerships [14:41] An Overview of the Machine Payment Protocol [16:26] Risks & Considerations [23:27] Where Stablecoins Fit in [29:02] Final Thoughts & Outro Stay connected with us beyond the podcast by following FCAT on Instagram, LinkedIn, and X, where we share additional insights and updates on all things emerging tech. Whether you're crypto-curious or have a crypto foundation, Fidelity may have your next career opportunity. EXPLORE NOW. Please remember: this podcast is solely for…
Topics covered
- agentic payments
- AI systems
- autonomous transactions
- technology in economy
- risks and considerations
- stablecoins
Keywords
- agentic payments
- AI agents
- autonomous transactions
- technology
- economy
- risks
- stablecoins
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Fidelity Center for Applied Technology, FCAT
Products: Machine Payment Protocol, Stablecoins
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