TLDR
- Mastercard launched Agent Pay for Machines on June 10 to enable AI-driven automated payments.
- RippleX joined over 30 partners supporting the new machine payment framework.
- The XRP Ledger and RLUSD will serve as on-chain settlement options within AP4M.
- Mastercard uses its Verifiable Intent system to credential and authorize AI agents.
- AP4M supports multi-rail settlement, including cards, bank accounts, and stablecoins.
Mastercard launched Agent Pay for Machines on June 10 to enable automated software payments at machine speed. The company named RippleX among more than 30 partners supporting the new framework. Ripple will provide the XRP Ledger and RLUSD as on-chain settlement options.
The service allows AI agents to transact continuously without human approval. Mastercard designed the system for high-frequency and low-value digital payments. Ripple’s infrastructure supports settlement in seconds with predictable fees.
Mastercard Integrates RLUSD and XRP Ledger Into AP4M
Mastercard built AP4M to support automated transactions between verified software agents. The company uses its Verifiable Intent system to credential and authenticate each agent. Organizations can set spending limits and enforce rules through programmable controls.
RippleX joined the launch group that includes Coinbase, OKX, Solana Foundation, and Polygon. Markus Infanger said XRPL and RLUSD let enterprises transact “within rules the chain itself enforces.” He added that the ledger offers fast settlement, compliance tools, and full audit trails.
Mastercard confirmed that AP4M supports multi-rail settlement options. These rails include cards, bank accounts, and regulated stablecoins. Therefore, RLUSD joins USDC and PYUSD as supported digital settlement assets.
Earlier on June 3, Mastercard added RLUSD to its 24/7 on-chain settlement network. The network already supports Ethereum, Solana, Arbitrum, and the XRP Ledger. As a result, RLUSD now connects to Mastercard infrastructure across several blockchain environments.
XRP Ledger Supports Machine-Speed Transactions
Mastercard designed AP4M for continuous machine-driven transactions. These payments can represent fractions of a cent and operate in the background. Traditional payment systems often struggle with such frequency and cost efficiency.
The XRP Ledger settles transactions within seconds and charges low network fees. RLUSD provides a dollar-denominated asset issued under regulatory oversight. Ripple stated that RLUSD operates under the New York Department of Financial Services’ supervision.
Ripple also secured federal trust-bank approval for its stablecoin operations. The company positions RLUSD as a regulated option for enterprise buyers. Mastercard’s chief product officer, Jorn Lambert, said the service enables AI business models at large scale.
RLUSD launched in December 2024 and reached over $1.5 billion in market capitalization by mid-2026. The stablecoin runs natively on XRPL and Ethereum and expands to Optimism and Base. It also connects to over 40 networks through Wormhole’s Native Token Transfers.
Mastercard structured AP4M as a rail-agnostic system for automated commerce. Competing providers such as Coinbase promote the x402 open standard for similar flows. Mastercard stated that agents can choose among supported settlement options based on program rules.
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