AI agents manage crypto, and now they have the infrastructure to do it properly. Coinbase just made that a reality. The San Francisco-based exchange launched what it calls Agentic Wallets, a crypto wallet system built from the ground up to let AI programs spend, earn, and trade digital assets without any human intervention in between.
This is not science fiction anymore. It is happening right now, and the implications for the crypto space are huge.
What Coinbase Actually Built
Coinbase developers Erik Reppel and Josh Nickerson published the details. They built Agentic Wallets on top of their earlier AgentKit framework, which first launched in November 2024. That initial version allowed developers to embed wallets into AI agents. But it was limited. Agents could answer questions, pull data, and summarize reports, but they couldn’t execute trades or move funds on their own.
Now that changes. The new Agentic Wallets let AI agents manage crypto positions end-to-end, monitoring DeFi yields, rebalancing portfolios, buying API access, paying for compute storage, and even participating in creator economies. All autonomously.
The x402 Protocol Powers It All
The backbone of this system is Coinbase’s x402 payments protocol – a purpose-built standard for autonomous AI transactions. According to Reppel and Nickerson, x402 has already processed over 50 million transactions. That is not a prototype number. That is real-world adoption.
Through x402, agents can acquire API keys, purchase compute, access premium data streams, and pay for storage, all without a human clicking “approve” each time. The agents operate on Base, Coinbase’s Ethereum Layer-2 network.
Think about what that means practically. Your AI agent detects a better yield at 3 am. It rebalances your portfolio automatically, within the permission limits you already set. No alarm. No approval. Just execution.
Coinbase Is Not Alone – Lightning Labs Joins the Race
The same week Coinbase dropped this news, Lightning Labs, the team behind the Bitcoin Lightning Network, released a new toolset of their own. Their update lets AI agents manage crypto on the Lightning Network using the L402 protocol standard. Agents can now run a Lightning node and handle a wallet containing native Bitcoin without ever touching the private keys.
And then there’s Crypto.com. Its CEO, Kris Marszalek, launched ai.com the same week, a platform that lets users create personal AI agents to handle everyday tasks, including managing emails, canceling subscriptions, planning trips, and even shopping.
Industry Leaders Are Already Calling It
Jeremy Allaire, CEO of Circle (the company behind USDC), made a bold prediction in January 2025. He said billions of AI agents will manage crypto and stablecoins for everyday payments on behalf of users within three to five years.
Changpeng Zhao (CZ), the former CEO of Binance, shared a similar view. He stated that crypto is going to be the native currency for AI agents, from buying tickets to paying restaurant bills.
Even Google got involved. The tech giant launched its Universal Commerce Protocol in January 2025, using Agent Payment Protocol 2 for transfers on behalf of users, with Google Pay as the default payment handler for USD transactions.
Why This Moment Actually Matters for Everyday Crypto Users
Letting AI agents manage crypto sounds cool in a blog post, but the real-world value is in accessibility. Most retail investors don’t have the time or knowledge to monitor DeFi positions at 3 am. They miss yield windows. They hold losing positions too long.
Agentic wallets could close that gap. They bring institutional-grade execution to regular users, provided the risk controls are set properly. That is the big “if” here.
The permission-based model Coinbase describes is promising. Users define the limits. Agents operate within them. But trust-building will take time, and regulators will have questions.
What are Coinbase Agentic Wallets?
They are crypto wallets designed specifically for AI agents, allowing them to transact, trade, and manage digital assets without human approval for each action.
Is it safe to let AI agents manage crypto?
Coinbase uses a permission-based system where users set the rules upfront. Agents operate only within those limits. That said, this technology is still early-stage and carries inherent risks.
Which blockchains do these AI agents work on?
Currently, Coinbase’s agents operate on Base (Ethereum Layer-2). Lightning Labs’ implementation works on the Bitcoin Lightning Network.
When will this be widely available?
Coinbase has already launched the infrastructure. Developers can build on AgentKit and x402 now. Broader consumer-facing products are still rolling out.
Bottom Line
The question was never really “can AI agents manage crypto?” We always knew the technology would get there. The real question was who would build the infrastructure first, and Coinbase just planted its flag.
With Lightning Labs, Crypto.com, Circle, and even Google all moving in the same direction, the trend is clear. Autonomous AI agents managing crypto is not a future scenario. It is the current state of the industry. Strap in.
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Disclaimer:
Look, we’re just journalists reporting the news here, not your financial advisors. Everything you read above is for information purposes only. Crypto is wild, unpredictable, and can absolutely wreck your savings if you’re not careful. Never invest money you can’t afford to lose. Seriously, we mean it. Do your own research, talk to actual licensed financial professionals, and remember that past performance means absolutely nothing when it comes to future results. The crypto market can turn on a dime, and what’s hot today might be toast tomorrow. We’re not responsible for your investment decisions, good or bad. Trade smart, stay safe, and don’t bet the farm on anything you read on the internet, including this article.
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