Visa Launches CLI Tool to Help AI Agents Make More Secure Card Payments

Visa Crypto Labs officially launched a command-line interface (CLI) tool that allows AI agents to make secure card payments without the need for traditional API keys.

On March 17, 2026, Visa Crypto Labs announced its first experimental product in the form of a CLI tool. The breakthrough of this tool lies in enabling AI agents—independent software programs—to initiate card payment transactions without using API keys.

In traditional systems, API keys serve as digital certificates to authenticate software with payment services. However, exposing these keys can lead to risks of third parties exploiting them to perform unauthorized transactions. By removing reliance on API keys, Visa’s new solution eliminates a critical attack surface, helping to protect the finances of users and businesses.

The new CLI tool is currently in beta testing, and developers can request access through GitHub authentication. This is part of Visa’s broader “Intelligent Commerce” initiative, which has already attracted over 100 partners involved in programmable payment systems.

According to Visa, its “Agentic Ready” program has also covered more than 20 banks across Europe. The appearance of this CLI tool marks a strategic move by the payments giant to stay ahead of the AI economy trend, where machine entities can autonomously conduct commerce activities safely and transparently.

While an official launch date for the commercial version has not yet been announced, Visa’s proactive provision of the experimental tool to the developer community demonstrates its commitment to shaping the future of digital payments in the AI era.