Visa and Artemis report: stablecoins become critical infrastructure for AI to broker micropayments

Core Points

stablecoins have been identified as the best solution for artificial intelligence proxy micropayments within the software ecosystem.

Artemis and Visa jointly envisioned a dual-track payment infrastructure that integrates traditional bank cards with stablecoins.

Blockchain-based payments can reduce the friction of high-frequency inter-machine transfers.

In the agency business landscape, traditional card networks and stablecoins are expected to coexist.

Regulatory frameworks and dispute resolution mechanisms pose significant obstacles to autonomous payment systems.

Research by Visa and Artemis points out that stablecoins will become the backbone of AI-driven payment infrastructure

According to recent research by Visa and blockchain intelligence company Artemis, stablecoins will become the backbone of AI-driven payment infrastructure. Analysis shows that digital tokens pegged to the US dollar are the best choice for low-cost automated transactions between machines. At the same time, traditional card payment systems will continue to dominate the consumer-facing business landscape, and these two parallel infrastructures will evolve together.

Blockchain Payment Track: Ideal for Autonomous Agent Transactions

A report jointly released by Visa and Artemis explores the payment landscape in the emerging agency economy. The analysis describes how AI agents can autonomously perform financial transactions without human supervision. Research divides transactions into two categories: macro business and micro business. Macro commerce covers traditional consumer transactions such as hotel bookings and cyclical service payments; micro commerce involves continuous, tiny software-driven transactions. Research positions stablecoins as ideal payment infrastructure for these automated, machine-driven activities.

Existing payment infrastructure performs well when processing large consumer transactions conducted through merchant systems. However, fixed transaction fees make processing payments less than a dollar economically inefficient. stablecoins provide an attractive alternative because blockchain-based settlements maintain an extremely low cost structure. Digital services are increasingly communicating and sharing computing resources through API calls, and these interactions frequently require continuous microtransactions during the automation process. As a result, stablecoins promote high-frequency value transfers while avoiding high processing costs.

Visa predicts dual-track payment infrastructure

Visa expects that emerging agency businesses will integrate traditional card systems with blockchain-based settlement layers. The two frameworks will not replace each other, but will operate collaboratively in an integrated payment ecosystem. AI agents will dynamically select appropriate payment channels based on transaction characteristics. Consumer transactions will continue to take place on established card networks because merchants have integrated these systems; while stablecoins will handle cyclical software payments that require the lowest execution costs. As a result, each payment technology will meet different operational needs in an automated business environment.

This study highlights the growing collaboration between traditional payment institutions and blockchain innovators. Traditional card payment systems now incorporate stablecoin functionality into their platforms. Similarly, cryptocurrency native services are constantly strengthening security and authentication protocols. Visa outlined its strategic vision to combine traditional transaction authorization with blockchain settlement infrastructure and promote cross-compatibility between these different payment ecosystems. As a result, engineers can build payment applications that seamlessly span traditional financial systems and distributed ledger networks.

Continuing obstacles caused by regulatory uncertainty

Analysis points out that trust infrastructure is a key obstacle to AI-driven commercial adoption. The current payment framework assumes that transactions require human authorization and legal liability. As a result, existing regulations do not fully cover autonomous payments initiated entirely by software. Contemporary dispute resolution mechanisms also reflect people-centered payment models. The refund infrastructure cannot efficiently process the thousands of automated microtransactions that continue to occur. Payment service providers need to establish workable agreements to resolve conflicts involving autonomous agents.

This research is in line with Visa's comprehensive strategy for the integration of AI-enabled commerce and blockchain payments. Previously launched projects have implemented a secure AI payment workflow and a powerful authentication framework. Visa has worked with multiple industry partners to promote the acceptance of digital asset payments in multiple jurisdictions. The company has also strengthened its commitment to stablecoins through multiple industry collaborations in recent quarters. Visa has become a founding member of the Open Standards Alliance, participating with MasterCard, Coinbase and other organizations that support the open USD protocol. In addition, the company has enhanced blockchain settlement services and promoted stablecoin integration through card plans and strategic alliances, thus verifying predictions that stablecoins will become an emerging AI-driven microfinance infrastructure in global digital commerce.