The Linux Foundation has announced the creation of the x402 Foundation to support and govern the x402 protocol - the open standard designed by Coinbase to enable seamless internet-native payments.

The x402 protocol allows software systems and AI agents to make direct payments over the web using mechanisms similar to HTTP. Learn more about it below:

The goal of the new foundation is to provide neutral governance, encourage industry collaboration, and ensure interoperability across platforms. By standardizing how machine-to-machine transactions work, the initiative aims to unlock new use cases where AI agents can autonomously pay for APIs, data, or digital services in real time.

The initiative reflects a broader effort to build foundational infrastructure for a future where autonomous systems participate in the digital economy, positioning x402 as a potential backbone for automated, internet-scale commerce.

Membership will be comprised of participants from multiple verticals, with initial intent and support being expressed by Adyen, Amazon Web Services (AWS), American Express, ampersend.ai, Base Chain, Circle, Cloudflare, Coinbase, Fiserv Merchant Solutions, Google, 카카오페이 (kakaopay), Mastercard, Merit Systems, Microsoft, Polygon Labs, PPRO, Shopify, Sierra, Solana Foundation, Stripe, thirdweb, and Visa.

Linux Foundation is Launching the x402 Foundation and Welcoming the Contribution of the x402 Protocol

Linux Foundation is Launching the x402 Foundation and Welcoming the Contribution of the x402 Protocol

https://www.linuxfoundation.org

Chainalysis, the leader in blockchain intelligence services, has introduced natural-language AI agents into its blockchain investigation platform, marking a shift toward more accessible and automated crypto analysis.

The new feature allows users to create and run investigations simply by describing what they need in plain language, rather than relying on specialized technical skills or complex query tools. These AI agents are built on data from millions of past investigations and can automatically identify relevant transactions, suggest analytical steps, and generate structured insights.

They are designed not as basic chatbots but as full investigative tools that support audit trails and evidentiary standards, making them suitable for compliance, law enforcement, and financial institutions.

The broader goal is to lower the barrier to blockchain intelligence, enabling non-experts, along with enterprise clients and law enforcement, to perform complex investigations and build custom workflows tailored to their needs.

Chainalysis adds 'natural language' AI agents to its blockchain investigation platform

CEO Jonathan Levin says it marks a "really important moment" for making such analysis more accessible as the crypto industry grows with non-native entrants.

https://www.coindesk.com

This development reflects a wider industry shift toward AI-driven analytics - just days before Chainalysis's announcement, their competitor TRM Labs also launched a program introducing AI agents into its crypto investigation platform.

These agents are integrated into TRM’s existing forensic tools and allow investigators, law enforcement, and compliance teams to conduct complex blockchain analysis using simple, natural-language prompts instead of technical queries.

The AI agents can automatically trace the flow of funds, identify suspicious patterns, and translate user requests into actionable investigative steps, significantly speeding up what is typically a time-intensive process.

These developments are particularly important as criminals are increasingly using AI themselves to enhance scams and evasion tactics, and as crypto-related crime has grown in scale, complexity, and sophistication.

According to TRM’s 2026 Crypto Crime Report, AI-enabled scam activity increased by roughly 500% in 2025 - fraud that once required significant human coordination now scales automatically, adapts on the fly, and disperses proceeds before investigators can respond.

AI agents to help investigators unearth crypto criminals, according to new TRM program

TRM Labs has added an AI agent to the services the blockchain analytics firm offers law enforcement agencies.

https://www.coindesk.com

Trust Wallet, one of the largest self-custody crypto wallets, has launched the Agent Kit - a new developer toolkit designed to enable AI agents to perform real cryptocurrency transactions rather than just analyze or suggest them. The tool allows AI systems to execute actions like swaps, transfers, and automated trading strategies across more than 25 blockchains, marking a shift from AI as an assistant to AI as an active participant in financial activity.

A key feature of the Agent Kit is its focus on user control and self-custody. It offers two operating models: the first allows AI agents to run autonomously within predefined rules using a dedicated wallet.

The second - unique in the industry - connects an AI agent directly to a user’s existing Trust Wallet through WalletConnect, where agents propose transactions that users approve before execution. Custody always remains with the user, ensuring safety and control.

This ensures that users retain ownership of their assets while still benefiting from automation.

The launch follows the recent opening of Trust Wallet’s Developer Portal, which allowed AI agents read-only access to data across more than 100 chains. While the Developer Portal provided context for understanding users’ crypto positions, the Agent Kit adds a wallet-connected layer, enabling user-directed actions and automated workflows.

Overall, the launch positions Trust Wallet as infrastructure for AI-driven, self-custody finance, reflecting a broader trend toward “agentic” economies where autonomous systems can manage and move assets under human-defined constraints.

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