Agentic Commerce is here! How do Visa, Mastercard, Stripe prepare? - Rex & Simon Talk Fintech #20

Agentic commerce represents the next evolution of digital shopping, where AI agents autonomously manage purchasing decisions and transactions. While current transaction volumes remain negligible, major infrastructure players like Stripe, Visa, and Mastercard are actively developing tokenization frameworks to secure these automated flows. This shift fundamentally alters the payment landscape, moving away from traditional card-based interfaces toward AI-driven interactions that prioritize transaction security over specific payment rails. Key challenges include establishing liability for autonomous purchases, distinguishing between authorized "good bots" and malicious actors, and navigating the increasing distance between traditional banking institutions and the consumer. As AI agents become primary interfaces, businesses must pivot from search engine optimization to agent engine optimization to remain visible, marking a significant transition in how commerce is discovered and executed in an automated future.