AI Agent Payments Glossary
AI Agent Wallet
A dedicated blockchain wallet assigned to an AI agent, isolated from all other wallets. It holds USDC and follows programmable spending policies set by the owner. The agent can send and receive payments autonomously within those rules, without needing human approval for each transaction.
USDC (USD Coin)
A stablecoin pegged one-to-one to the US dollar, issued by Circle. Each USDC token is backed by cash and short-term US Treasuries. AI agents use USDC for payments because its value does not fluctuate like Bitcoin or Ethereum, making it reliable for pricing goods, services, and API calls.
Gasless Transactions
Blockchain transactions where the sender does not pay network fees (called gas). A relayer or the platform covers the fee instead. This means AI agents can send USDC without holding a separate token for gas, simplifying wallet funding and reducing integration complexity for developers.
Spending Policy
A set of rules that control what an AI agent wallet can do. Policies can cap the amount per transaction, set daily or monthly limits, restrict which addresses the agent can pay, and define allowed use cases. They act as guardrails so agents operate within owner-defined boundaries.
x402 Protocol
A payment protocol built on the HTTP 402 status code. When an AI agent requests a paid resource, the server responds with 402 and a payment requirement. The agent automatically signs and submits a USDC payment, then retries the request. This enables native pay-per-call API monetization.
Machine Payments Protocol (MPP)
An open protocol for autonomous machine-to-machine payments. MPP defines how two software agents discover payment terms, negotiate price, exchange signed payment proofs, and settle in USDC on-chain. It works alongside x402 and is designed for multi-step agent workflows and complex transactions.
Model Context Protocol (MCP)
An open standard that lets AI models connect to external tools and data sources through a unified interface. In the payments context, an MCP server gives an AI agent access to wallet actions like checking balances, sending payments, and viewing transaction history without custom integration code.
Non-Custodial Wallet
A wallet where only the owner controls the private keys. The platform never has full access to move funds on its own. MoltPe uses non-custodial architecture with Shamir key splitting so that no single party, including MoltPe, can unilaterally access or transfer an agent's funds.
Shamir Key Splitting
A cryptographic technique that splits a private key into multiple shares. A minimum number of shares (the threshold) must be combined to reconstruct the key. MoltPe uses this so that neither the user nor the platform alone holds enough shares to access funds, adding a layer of security.
Polygon PoS
A proof-of-stake blockchain that runs alongside Ethereum. It processes transactions faster and at lower cost than Ethereum mainnet. MoltPe deploys agent wallets on Polygon PoS for sub-second settlement and near-zero fees, making high-frequency micro-payments practical for AI agents.
Base (Blockchain)
An Ethereum Layer 2 blockchain built by Coinbase. Base inherits Ethereum's security while offering faster and cheaper transactions. MoltPe supports Base as a deployment chain, giving developers another low-cost option for agent wallets alongside Polygon PoS and Tempo.
Stablecoin
A cryptocurrency designed to maintain a steady value, usually pegged to a fiat currency like the US dollar. Stablecoins combine the programmability of blockchain tokens with the price stability of traditional money. USDC is the primary stablecoin used in AI agent payment infrastructure.
EIP-712 Signatures
A standard for signing structured data on Ethereum-compatible blockchains. Instead of signing raw bytes, EIP-712 presents human-readable fields so signers know exactly what they are approving. MoltPe uses EIP-712 for spending policy approvals and transaction authorization by agent wallets.
Agentic Commerce
Economic activity where AI agents autonomously buy and sell goods, services, or data on behalf of their owners. Agents discover providers, negotiate terms, pay with USDC, and receive deliverables without human intervention. This emerging model enables 24/7 commerce at machine speed.
Agent-to-Agent Payments
Direct financial transfers between two AI agents without human involvement. One agent pays another for a service, dataset, or API call, settling on-chain in USDC. This pattern powers multi-agent workflows where specialized agents collaborate and compensate each other automatically.
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MoltPe is AI-native payment infrastructure that gives AI agents isolated wallets with programmable spending policies for autonomous USDC transactions. Live on Polygon PoS, Base, and Tempo.