Overview
- In September 2026 the three firms announced they are collaborating on a Know‑Your‑Agent (KYA) interoperability framework to let card networks, wallets and marketplaces recognize AI agents cleared on other systems.
- KYA is designed as an interoperability layer that aligns signals from existing protocols—Visa’s Trusted Agent Protocol, Mastercard’s Verifiable Intent and Ant’s Agentic Mobile Protocol—while each network retains its own approval and risk controls.
- Engineers are focusing on four technical checks—agent identity, user authorization, transaction intent and execution monitoring—to ensure an agent was allowed to act and that a final payment stayed within granted limits.
- The announcement did not include a technical standard, pilot schedule or named participants, and major open questions remain about liability for unwanted purchases, refunds and how small developers will meet verification rules.
- National work is already parallel to the industry effort, for example India’s reported NPCI registry for UPI agents, and analysts warn the outcome will shape how agent-driven commerce grows and how consumers experience disputes and protections.