#United States #New York #Payment Innovation #agentic payments #Rain Technologies

Rain Unveils the Agentic Payments Alliance

On August 18, 2026, the landscape of digital payments took a significant turn with the announcement of the Agentic Payments Alliance (APA). Spearheaded by Rain, a pioneering firm specializing in stablecoin-powered payment infrastructure, this coalition is set to redefine how agent-driven commerce will operate in the near future. With founding members including global giants like Visa, Mastercard, Fiserv, and Circle, the APA aims to establish unified standards and frameworks for how transactions are conducted through agents.

The Rise of Agentic Commerce

According to a forecast by McKinsey, agentic commerce could reach between $3 trillion and $5 trillion globally by 2030. This burgeoning field represents transactions facilitated by agents, reflecting a shift towards more decentralized commerce systems. However, much of the necessary infrastructure — from agent authorization to fraud prevention — is still in its infancy. The formation of the APA is a proactive step to ensure that stakeholders collaborate on defining these critical frameworks and standards before isolated decisions hinder growth.

Collaborative Efforts for Future Standards

In its first year, Rain focused on laying the groundwork, introducing tools like the Agent Control Layer and Scoped Cards. These innovations equip agents with secure and widely accepted payment credentials. Rather than going it alone, Rain galvanized industry leaders to convene and collaborate, establishing a working coalition managed collectively by its founding members. By fostering open dialogue, the APA aims to prevent potential misalignment between different stakeholders as the agent-driven commerce landscape continues to evolve.

Membership and Strategic Focus

The structure of the APA allows all members to contribute to its charter and mission collaboratively. Initial goals include:

• - Conducting shared research and developing frameworks to standardize agent identity and authorization;
• - Advocating for regulatory clarity in agentic commerce;
• - Testing emerging standards that will govern how agent transactions are executed.

Founding members of the APA include a diverse range of organizations, such as Avalanche, Chainalysis, Solana, and Uniswap Labs, underscoring the coalition's broad commitment to innovation in this domain.

As a special incentive for its participants, the APA also offers early access to Rain's Agentic Startup Program, which is designed to support promising startups focusing on agentic commerce. This program's first cohort consists of five startups that will showcase their work to members at a dedicated demo day.

Industry Insights and Quotes

Sherri Haymond, EVP and Global Head of Digital Commercialization at Mastercard, emphasized the importance of fostering consensus: "The risk in a moment like this is not that the industry moves too slowly — it's that innovation outpaces alignment. We believe that our participation in the APA is a natural extension of our longstanding commitment to enabling commerce at scale."

Meanwhile, Rain’s CEO Farooq Malik remarked, "No single company should dictate how agents operate on behalf of others. The establishment of this alliance facilitates a space where platforms, regulators, and innovators can design collaborative solutions, ensuring a balanced approach in the development of agent-driven commerce."

Joining the Alliance

Organizations interested in becoming part of the Agentic Payments Alliance are encouraged to contact APA directly at [email protected], ushering them into a collaborative effort that promises to shape the future of commerce.

About Rain

Rain stands as a global leader in stablecoin payments, facilitating compliant and instantaneous transactions for enterprises, neobanks, and developers. With partnerships extending to Visa and Mastercard, Rain's infrastructure makes it possible for over 175 million merchant locations worldwide to accept stablecoins seamlessly. With more than a hundred global partners, Rain is committed to driving forward the future of instant and secure payments.