Coinbase Unveils Agentic Commerce Framework to Merge AI and Blockchain

Coinbase is pivoting toward an ambitious vision that blends artificial intelligence and blockchain, aiming to redefine digital commerce through a concept known as Agentic Commerce. At the WebX 2025 event, Dan Kim, Vice President at Coinbase, outlined a strategic shift where AI agents move from merely advising to actively executing transactions on-chain [1]. This initiative is not a sudden pivot but an evolution of “hacker-driven experiments” observed at DEFCON 2024, where AI agents were seen performing complex blockchain tasks like arbitrage and token minting [1].

To operationalize this vision, Coinbase introduced AgentKit, a toolset that simplifies blockchain interactions for AI systems. By wrapping service calls into APIs, AgentKit enables AI agents to execute on-chain transactions as if performing standard functions, thereby transforming experimental use cases into scalable infrastructure [1]. This development marks a departure from speculative AI hype and signals a focus on practical implementation.

The core idea of Agentic Commerce is to solve the “last mile problem” in AI — the gap between recommendation and execution. While AI can plan and advise, it has historically lacked the capability to make real-time payments. Coinbase addresses this by integrating USDC and the X402 protocol into its framework. USDC facilitates micro-payments with lower fees than traditional systems, while X402, an open standard, allows agent-to-agent payments across the web [1]. These components empower AI to transition from advisor to executor, closing the loop between suggestion and action.

The potential use cases are already tangible and extend beyond the speculative. For instance, AI agents could automatically order replacement parts when a refrigerator breaks, book travel accommodations, or pay for content and data services with minimal user input. This shifts consumer behavior from a traditional “search → click → pay” model to a more seamless “chat → done” interaction, bypassing intermediaries like search engines or e-commerce platforms [1].

However, Coinbase acknowledges that the technological hurdles are less daunting than the challenges of consensus and governance. Identity verification for AI agents, user control over spending, and the adoption of X402 as an industry standard remain critical issues. Without widespread agreement, the success of Agentic Commerce will be limited. Companies like Cloudflare are already exploring solutions such as agent repositories with verifiable IDs to address these concerns [1].

Coinbase’s broader goal is to position crypto as the settlement layer of the AI economy, driving adoption of USDC and its Base blockchain. Internally, the company aims to build a competitive advantage by creating “AI payment loops,” potentially transforming its platform into a central infrastructure for AI-driven commerce [1]. Yet, the outcome remains uncertain. If users and developers do not adopt the framework, Agentic Commerce risks becoming another buzzword. Similarly, unresolved identity and security issues could create high-risk environments.

Despite these challenges, Coinbase’s bet could redefine the intersection of AI and crypto. If successful, it may not only enhance the utility of blockchain but also establish the first true consumer-facing killer app in the crypto space. The company’s strategy reflects a bold vision — one that could either serve as the gateway to a new internet era or fade as a short-lived narrative [1].

Source: [1] 【WebX 2025】Web3 x AI: Why Coinbase is Doubling Down on Artificial Intelligence? (https://coinmarketcap.com/community/articles/68ad6cfe92491e16ebd47839/)