Experience the Dawn of Agentic Commerce at Consensus 2026

A seismic shift is underway in the world of commerce, driven by the convergence of artificial intelligence and blockchain payments. As AI agents begin to transact autonomously, the need for specialized financial infrastructure has become increasingly pressing. Consensus 2026 is poised to address this challenge, bringing together over 15,000 industry leaders, engineers, and policymakers to shape the future of agentic commerce. According to Christian Catalini, MIT professor and founder of the Cryptoeconomics Lab, true agentic payments are only possible when AI is the counterparty, enabling features like atomic settlement and per-second payment streaming. This is not a distant vision, but a near-term engineering problem that Consensus 2026 aims to tackle. Google Cloud's presence at the event, along with its investment in blockchain payment rails, underscores the significance of agentic commerce. Rich Widmann, Global Head of Strategy for Web3, notes that the biggest friction points lie in products built for humans, not agents. To overcome this, Google is actively participating in open protocols like x402 and deepening partnerships across the Web3 ecosystem. The 'rails race' is heating up, with x402 and MPP emerging as early contenders for agentic payment infrastructure. Consensus 2026 will provide a platform for these protocols to be debated and refined, with key players like Erik Reppel, Stefano Bury, and Chi Zhang in attendance. For those seeking hands-on experience, CoinDesk University offers a comprehensive curriculum on building and deploying agentic payments, covering topics from stablecoin wallets to AI trading bots. With its immersive format and expert instructors, attendees can gain a deeper understanding of the mechanics and risks associated with agentic commerce. The window for shaping the future of agentic commerce is open, but it won't remain so forever. Join the conversation at Consensus 2026, May 5-7, in Miami Beach, and be part of the decision-making process that will define the industry for years to come.