Key facts
- HSBC and Ant Digital Technologies tested AI agents making micropayments using tokenized deposits.
- The trial used HSBC's Tokenised Deposit Service and Ant Digital's Anvita Flow network.
- Transactions were settled in real time on a blockchain testnet with risk checks.
- The test was limited to technical verification and not a commercial launch.
- Other banks like Santander, Sygnum, and CaixaBank are also exploring AI-agent payments.
HSBC and Ant Digital Technologies have conducted a technical trial demonstrating how artificial intelligence agents could initiate and execute micropayments using tokenized bank deposits. The system integrated HSBC's Tokenised Deposit Service with Ant Digital's Anvita Flow network, running on a layer-2 blockchain testnet called Jovay Testnet.
The trial showcased an AI agent discovering and selecting a digital service, then completing a payment, with transactions settled in real time and subjected to risk checks. These micropayments were defined as typically less than $2. Both companies emphasized that the test was purely for technical verification and does not represent a commercial offering.
This development aligns with broader industry exploration into AI-driven finance. Spanish bank Santander, Swiss digital asset bank Sygnum, and Spanish group CaixaBank have also conducted similar tests involving AI agents initiating financial transactions. However, some industry figures, like Ferdinand Dabitz, CEO of Augustus, question the ability of traditional banking systems, built for human operations, to handle the 24/7 demands of AI-driven finance, suggesting purpose-built infrastructure may be necessary.
Investment research firm Citrini Research has noted the potential for blockchain networks to provide the necessary programmable infrastructure for AI agents, which operate continuously across applications. The firm suggests that as AI agents increasingly handle transactions, traditional financial systems may need to adapt to this always-on, programmatic model.