Mastercard has just opened a new era in the crypto world. On June 10, 2026, the payments giant launched Agent Pay for Machines or AP4M. It is a protocol enabling AI agents to authorize, coordinate, and settle transactions on its global network (including stablecoins). Developed in partnership with more than 30 leaders in the crypto industry (including Coinbase and Ripple), this major deployment marks the official birth of machine-to-machine commerce.