Visa is launching its Agentic Ready program globally to integrate its infrastructure with AI agents, aiming to secure its position in future payment ecosystems. This move directly addresses a bear case scenario where AI agents could bypass traditional card networks for cheaper stablecoin settlements, potentially impacting Visa's transaction volume.
Visa's Agentic Ready program is a direct response to a hypothetical bear case presented by Citrini Research, which suggests AI agents could opt for cheaper stablecoin infrastructure over traditional card networks. While Visa doesn't earn interchange fees, the core threat is the unbundling of the payment stack, where AI agents could choose alternative settlement rails, leading to a loss of transaction volume for Visa. The program aims to embed Visa's 'trust layer' (identity, authorization, fraud protection) into agent-led transactions, making it harder for agents to bypass Visa's infrastructure. This is a long-term strategic move to secure Visa's relevance in an AI-driven payment future. For traders, the opportunity lies in Visa's ability to successfully integrate and maintain its position, while the risk is if the 'copyability problem' allows large banks or competitors like Mastercard (which already has an agent pay solution for stablecoins) to build their own independent solutions that bypass Visa entirely.