Key facts
- MoonPay launched PayBox, a payment vault enabling AI assistants like ChatGPT and Claude to facilitate crypto transactions.
- Users can authorize crypto purchases, token swaps, and cross-chain transfers using natural language prompts.
- Custody of assets is maintained by the user, with transaction approval via passkey or predefined spending limits.
- The technology employs multi-party computation and trusted execution environments to secure wallet keys.
- PayBox supports various blockchains and payment methods, including traditional options like debit cards and PayPal.
- The platform integrates with Coinbase's x402 open payment protocol, supporting AI agent payments.
MoonPay has introduced PayBox, a new payment vault designed to allow users of AI assistants like ChatGPT and Claude to authorize cryptocurrency transactions directly within their conversations. This feature enables users to buy cryptocurrencies, swap tokens, and perform cross-chain transfers by simply using natural language prompts, while crucially maintaining control over their digital assets.
Users connect their crypto wallets and preferred payment methods to the AI assistants. Transactions are prepared by the AI, and users can then approve each one using a passkey. Alternatively, users can set specific spending limits, allowing the AI to execute certain predefined actions autonomously. MoonPay emphasizes that PayBox utilizes multi-party computation and trusted execution environments to safeguard wallet keys, ensuring that neither the AI nor MoonPay can access user funds independently.
The platform boasts support for multiple blockchains and a variety of payment methods, including traditional options such as debit cards, bank accounts, Apple Pay, and PayPal. MoonPay also offers a software development kit (SDK) that allows developers to integrate the PayBox payment vault into their own AI applications.
PayBox's functionality is enhanced by its support for x402, an open payment protocol originally developed by Coinbase. This protocol is designed to enable AI agents to conduct internet-native payments and is now governed as an open, vendor-neutral industry standard under the Linux Foundation. Coinbase has been actively expanding the x402 ecosystem, introducing tools that allow AI agents to accept USDC payments, trade crypto, and process micropayments efficiently. Major entities like Amazon Web Services and Fireblocks have also integrated or developed frameworks compatible with x402, indicating growing adoption and network activity.