Crypto exchange OKX has launched an open protocol designed to allow AI agents to perform full business transactions, extending machine payments into an end-to-end sales operation.
Summary
- OKX has launched an open Agent Payments Protocol designed to allow AI agents to handle full business operations, including quoting, settlement, and settlement.
- The exchange said existing agent payment systems do not support complete transaction cycles, and dispute resolution features are still being developed.
According to OKX, the Agent Payments Protocol enables AI systems to handle not only payments but also quoting, negotiation, disbursement, usage tracking, settlement, and dispute handling within a single framework.
“In the past few months, AI agents have moved from answering questions to facilitating work, managing business processes, and working autonomously on behalf of users,” OKX said, adding that “the bottleneck has changed from intelligence to commerce, not just payments, but the full cycle of doing business.”
The protocol extends beyond machine payments
OKX said that existing systems, such as x402, are mainly focused on enabling transactions between devices, while the APP is designed to support the entire lifecycle of commercial interactions.
“Existing agent payment solutions don’t handle this,” OKX said, referring to processes like escrow and dispute resolution, which the company plans to roll out in future updates.
The protocol is built as an open standard compatible across multiple blockchains, with Ethereum and Solana among the supported networks. OKX said its Payment SDK allows developers to integrate simultaneous, bulk, and on-the-go payments using its X Layer blockchain, with low or zero gas costs.
A self-contained Agentic Wallet protected by trusted operating conditions is part of the system, which supports more than 20 chains. OKX added that the protocol allows communication between agents via HTTP and XMTP, while also integrating messaging platforms such as Telegram.
Escrow functionality will allow funds to be released only after services are delivered, while built-in dispute resolution tools are still being developed, according to the company.
The work of the field builds the sales of agents
The launch comes as firms across industries are working with AI-led infrastructure for jobs. Coinbase has expanded its x402 ecosystem with Agentic.market, where AI agents can find and pay for services without API keys, based on a statement from Coinbase product lead Nick Prince.
Prince said the platform is designed to “give people and their agents access to thousands of services, with zero API keys required,” while describing it as “a one-stop shop for finding, comparing and using x402 services.”
Stripe-backed infrastructure has also focused on building networks suitable for high-volume device transactions, while firms such as Amazon Web Services and Alibaba Cloud have supported the development of agent payment standards.
At the blockchain level, OKX said it has partnered with ecosystems including Base, Ethereum Foundation, Sui, Aptos, and Optimism.
“It is built on years of accumulation of on-chain infrastructure and AI, and built in collaboration with a group of outstanding partners,” said OKX Global CEO Star Xu, adding that this process is “an important step that brings the Agent economy to real-world use.”
The release follows a push for institutions and infrastructure
The release builds on OKX’s recent expansion into institutional services. BitGo is an integrated off-exchange system in the US, which allows firms to trade while keeping assets under third-party custody.
Under this arrangement, BitGo acts as a maintenance and compensation provider, reducing the need for pre-funded exchange accounts. OKX said the setup improves financial efficiency for the institution’s clients.
“Crypto investment institutions require funds to be protected and leveraged,” said Roshan Robert, CEO of OKX US and former director of Barclays, adding that BitGo’s partnership gives clients flexibility in securing assets while maintaining access to trading.
BitGo, in its IPO filing, warned that off-exchange settlements have operational and third-party risks, including processing errors, delays in asset transfers, cyber security incidents, and reconciliation failures.
With the APP, OKX positioned its latest release as an infrastructure for AI-driven operations from payments to full business operations.
