A seismic shift is underway in the world of commerce, driven by the convergence of artificial intelligence and blockchain payments. AI agents, capable of autonomous decision-making and action, are beginning to engage in transactions, from paying for APIs to settling invoices.
However, traditional payment systems are not equipped to handle the unique requirements of these agents, creating friction and highlighting the need for new financial infrastructure. Consensus 2026 will bring together over 15,000 industry leaders, developers, and innovators to shape the future of agentic commerce, including the development of new payment rails, regulatory frameworks, and business models. The event will feature prominent speakers, including Christian Catalini, MIT professor and founder of the Cryptoeconomics Lab, and Rich Widmann, Google Cloud's Global Head of Strategy for Web3, who will discuss the potential of agentic commerce and the challenges that must be addressed.
Two emerging protocols, x402 and MPP, will also be showcased, as they vie to become the standard for agentic payments. CoinDesk University will offer a comprehensive curriculum for attendees to learn about building and deploying agentic payments, from foundational principles to advanced implementation.
With the potential to facilitate trillions of dollars in machine-to-machine transactions, the discussions and decisions made at Consensus 2026 will have far-reaching implications for the future of commerce.