Embracing the Era of Agentic Commerce: Experience it Live at Consensus 2026

A significant transformation is underway in the world of commerce, driven by the convergence of artificial intelligence and blockchain payments. AI agents, capable of autonomous perception, decision-making, and action, are beginning to engage in transactions, including payments for APIs, invoice settlements, and interactions with infrastructure. However, traditional payment systems are not designed to accommodate these agent-based transactions, creating friction that hinders their navigation. The upcoming Consensus 2026 event will bring together over 15,000 influential figures from the crypto, AI, and finance sectors to discuss and shape the future of agentic commerce, including the development of regulatory frameworks, business models, and payment rails. According to Christian Catalini, MIT professor and founder of the Cryptoeconomics Lab, true agentic payments will only be achieved when AI is the counterparty, enabling capabilities such as atomic settlement and per-second payment streaming. This is not a distant scenario, but rather a near-term engineering challenge that will be addressed at Consensus 2026. The event will feature key players, including Google Cloud, which is investing in blockchain payment rails, and representatives from emerging protocols such as x402 and MPP. Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in CoinDesk University, a comprehensive curriculum that covers the fundamentals and implementation of agentic payments. As the industry is still in its early stages, 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 trajectory of this emerging field.