As technology enabling AI agents to perform payments autonomously without human intervention gains attention, Ripple has set out to expand support for AI payment features based on its blockchain network, XRP Ledger (XRPL).
Ripple has unveiled the first phase of the 'XRPL AI Starter Kit,' designed to help developers build payment applications for AI agents. This release includes 'Claude Skills,' which enable AI development tools to interact with the XRPL network, and support for the 'X402 Protocol,' an internet-based payment standard.
According to Ripple, developers can use the tool to integrate functions such as wallet creation, balance inquiry, and transfers into AI applications. Additionally, the AI agent is designed to handle costs incurred during the use of digital services by utilizing XRP or Ripple's dollar-pegged stablecoin, RLUSD.
Ripple presents XRPL's predictable transaction costs and fast transaction processing capabilities as factors suitable for AI-based payment environments. Furthermore, it explained that asset exchange functions within the network can be utilized through the decentralized exchange (DEX) embedded in XRPL.
This announcement is drawing attention as it coincides with an AI payment project unveiled by global payment giant Mastercard. Mastercard announced the 'Agent Pay for Machines (AP4M)' project, which supports transactions and settlements between AI agents, and Ripple was named as one of the project's initial partners.
Market observers predict that if environments where AI agents directly handle digital service usage and payments expand, the scope of blockchain-based payment infrastructure utilization could also broaden. Accordingly, attention is focused on what roles XRPL and RLUSD will play in the AI payment ecosystem.
