Coinbase bets on autonomous AI as Agentic Wallets go live – Details!

ambcryptoPublished on 2026-02-12Last updated on 2026-02-12

Abstract

Coinbase has unveiled Agentic Wallets, a new infrastructure designed to enable AI agents to autonomously hold, spend, earn, and trade cryptocurrency without requiring human approval for each step. Built on Coinbase's systems and the x402 protocol, the technology supports machine-to-machine crypto payments, gasless trading on Base, and programmable financial actions, with built-in security and compliance features. In parallel, Lightning Labs introduced tools for AI transactions over Bitcoin’s Lightning Network, including L402 payments and enhanced security controls. On Ethereum, over 13,000 AI agents registered in a single day following the launch of the ERC-8004 standard, which provides portable identities and a trust layer. Amid these developments, several AI-related tokens, such as KITE and CLANKER, saw significant weekly gains, suggesting growing investor interest in the AI-crypto narrative. The advancements signal a shift from AI systems that merely advise to those capable of independent action, potentially marking a new phase in crypto-enabled autonomous economies.

This week, Coinbase revealed new features that could let AI agents carry out crypto transactions. Following suit, other developers also shared updates tied to AI-powered payments.

With many AI tokens ending the week in the green, will this be the tipping point for the growing narrative?

Agentic wallets for autonomous AI payments

Coinbase has unveiled Agentic Wallets, a new wallet infrastructure designed specifically for AI agents. The goal is to give AI systems the ability to hold, spend, earn and trade crypto on their own, without waiting for human approval at every step.

Today’s AI agents can advise on trades or identify services they need, but they cannot execute payments independently. With this project, the team says,

“The next generation of agents won’t just advise – they’ll act.”

Built on Coinbase’s infrastructure and powered by the x402 payments protocol (which has already processed over 50 million transactions) the system will reportedly enable machine-to-machine crypto payments. It will also help with gasless trading on Base, and programmable financial actions.

Developers can set session caps and transaction limits, while private keys stay secured within Coinbase’s infrastructure. Built-in compliance tools will also screen transactions automatically.

Here’s more!

Lightning Labs also announced a new set of tools that would help AI agents transact directly over the Bitcoin [BTC] Lightning Network.

Their update will include support for automatic L402 payments, node operations via MCP, remote key signing for added security, and scoped spending controls.

Meanwhile, activity on Ethereum [ETH] is heating up too.

In fact, over 13,000 AI agents registered on-chain in a single day following the launch of ERC-8004. That’s the new standard that gives agents portable identities and a built-in trust layer.

Tokens turn green as narrative catches steam

Several major AI tokens finished the week in positive territory, even if the top tokens dipped.

Kite [KITE] climbed by nearly 15% over the past seven days, while tokenbot [CLANKER] went up more than 15%. Siren [SIREN] gained over 12%, and Unibase [UB] rose by more than 9% weekly.

Now, some tokens remain down on shorter time frames. However, the broader trend did imply that investors could be stepping in early for what could become the next major growth story.

Final Thoughts

  • Coinbase’s Agentic Wallets and Lightning’s AI payment tools will help the AI-crypto story this year.
  • With 13,000 AI agents registering on Ethereum in a single day, the economy may already be taking shape!

Trending Cryptos

ctr
CitreaCTR
wstusdt
wrapped stUSDTWSTUSDT
apr
aPrioriAPR
ctx
Cryptex FinanceCTX
audio
AudiusAUDIO
mantra
MantraMANTRA
waxl
AxelarWAXL
bill
Billions NetworkBILL
pyth
PYTH (Pyth)PYTH
rune
THORChainRUNE
velodrome
Velodrome FinanceVELODROME
brev
BrevisBREV
zrx
ZRX（0X）ZRX
cake
PancakeSwapCAKE
jst
JUSTJST

Related Questions

QWhat is the main feature of Coinbase's newly unveiled Agentic Wallets?

AAgentic Wallets are a new wallet infrastructure designed specifically for AI agents, giving them the ability to hold, spend, earn, and trade crypto autonomously without requiring human approval for each step.

QWhich payment protocol powers Coinbase's Agentic Wallets and how many transactions has it processed?

AThe system is powered by the x402 payments protocol, which has already processed over 50 million transactions.

QWhat did Lightning Labs announce in relation to AI agents and the Bitcoin network?

ALightning Labs announced a new set of tools to help AI agents transact directly over the Bitcoin Lightning Network, including support for automatic L402 payments and remote key signing for added security.

QWhat significant on-chain activity was observed on Ethereum following the launch of ERC-8004?

AOver 13,000 AI agents registered on-chain in a single day following the launch of ERC-8004, a new standard that provides agents with portable identities and a built-in trust layer.

QWhich AI tokens saw significant price increases over the past week according to the article?

AKite (KITE) climbed nearly 15%, tokenbot (CLANKER) went up more than 15%, Siren (SIREN) gained over 12%, and Unibase (UB) rose by more than 9% weekly.

Related Reads

After Three Consecutive Quarters of Decline, Can the Crypto Market Find a Window for Stabilization in Q3?

The cryptocurrency market has just concluded its worst-performing quarter since 2022, with total capitalization dropping 12.6% to $2.1 trillion. All core metrics indicate capital is leaving the sector, not just rotating within it. Bitcoin fell 14.2% and Ethereum dropped 25.4% in Q2, breaking their previous correlation with US tech stocks. A key driver is the reversal in US spot Bitcoin ETF flows, which saw a net outflow of approximately $4.67 billion in Q2, including a record monthly outflow near $4.5 billion in June. While recent data suggests long-term holders are accumulating again, sustained ETF outflows mean continued selling pressure. Market focus is now singularly on the Federal Reserve. The upcoming July FOMC meeting is seen as the most critical event for Q3. A dovish signal could support Bitcoin reclaiming a $68,000-$84,000 range, while a hawkish stance might establish a new trading band around $50,000-$56,000. Additionally, regulatory uncertainty persists, with the progress of the crucial *CLARITY Act* stalling in the Senate, reducing its perceived 2026 passage probability to 40-45%. Despite the broad downturn, a few sectors showed growth. Prediction markets saw nominal volume surge 48.7% year-over-year to $113.8 billion, and tokenized collectibles transaction volume rose 143% quarterly to $1.4 billion. The Real-World Asset (RWA) tokenization sector also continued steady growth, now representing ~$28.1 billion in on-chain value. The market's foundation for an extreme crash appears limited, with Bitcoin price hovering near its 200-week moving average. However, the trading paradigm has shifted from narrative-driven speculation to decisions based on price action, policy developments, and interest rate expectations, making a broad sentiment-driven rally unlikely in the near term.

marsbit31m ago

After Three Consecutive Quarters of Decline, Can the Crypto Market Find a Window for Stabilization in Q3?

marsbit31m ago

The SpaceX Trade, Unlocked: SPCXON Goes Live on WEEX

WEEX has launched SPCXON/USDT, a tokenized spot instrument that provides exposure to SpaceX stock (SPCXON) for traders using USDT, bypassing traditional brokerage barriers. This product, built on Ondo's framework, mirrors SpaceX's economics for eligible non-US traders, with dividends reinvested. SpaceX's high valuation post-IPO is driven by Starlink and Starship, but skeptics note its premium price and upcoming insider unlock. SPCXON offers exposure, not direct ownership or voting rights, and may trade at a premium/discount. WEEX provides a unified platform for such tokenized equities alongside crypto. The exchange, with over 6.2 million users, emphasizes security and innovative tools.

TheNewsCrypto36m ago

The SpaceX Trade, Unlocked: SPCXON Goes Live on WEEX

TheNewsCrypto36m ago

BIT Trading Moment: BTC Still Suppressed by Weekly 200 EMA, Rejection May Restart Decline; Storage and Semiconductors that Surged Last Night Begin Falling in Evening Trading

**Crypto & Stock Market Wrap: Bitcoin Tests Resistance, Stocks Retreat After AI Surge** Bitcoin consolidates around $66,000, facing key resistance near $68,000—an area seen as a major psychological and technical hurdle where previous rallies have failed. Analysts note the cryptocurrency is caught between its 200-week moving average (~$63,333) and 200-week EMA (~$68,328). A clear break above $68k is needed to signal a stronger bullish trend, while a rejection could lead to a retest of $63k support. Market sentiment remains cautious, with low futures open interest pointing to a low-liquidity rebound rather than a full bull market. Bitcoin spot ETFs saw another $203 million inflow. US stock futures pointed lower after a strong Tuesday session led by a massive rebound in semiconductors and memory stocks. The rally was fueled by renewed optimism about AI-driven hardware demand, with Micron, SanDisk, and SK Hynix surging. However, those gains reversed in pre-market trading. Super Micro Computer (SMCI) soared over 20% after hours on strong guidance and a record backlog. Other standouts included Rocket Lab and nuclear energy plays Oklo and X-Energy. Rising oil prices (Brent above $91) and climbing Treasury yields (10-year near 4.64%), however, are reigniting inflation concerns and acting as a headwind for equities. In Asia, markets were mixed. South Korea's KOSPI pared early gains to close slightly higher as semiconductor stocks like SK Hynix gave back initial surges. Japan's Nikkei edged lower as the yen hit a fresh 38-year low against the dollar, raising fears of potential market intervention. Key events to watch include the Samsung Galaxy launch, AMD's AI event, and a slew of major tech earnings from Alphabet, Tesla, and IBM after the close on Wednesday, followed by the ECB meeting and Intel's earnings on Thursday.

marsbit39m ago

BIT Trading Moment: BTC Still Suppressed by Weekly 200 EMA, Rejection May Restart Decline; Storage and Semiconductors that Surged Last Night Begin Falling in Evening Trading

marsbit39m ago

Former CFTC Chairman, Circle President Tarbert: Preaching Long-Termism While Cashing Out $30 Million Himself

Former CFTC Chairman and Circle President Heath Tarbert has consistently advocated for a long-term vision in public, urging patience from investors as Circle’s stock price has fallen significantly from its peak. However, it has been revealed that since Circle’s IPO, Tarbert has continuously sold his CRCL shares through pre-arranged trading plans, cashing out approximately $30 million, without making any public market purchases. This contrast between his public messaging and personal actions has drawn criticism. Tarbert joined Circle in July 2023 as Chief Legal Officer, leveraging his regulatory experience to help guide the company through its IPO and expansion. Despite promoting stablecoins as long-term infrastructure, he established a 10b5-1 trading plan just before Circle went public, leading to substantial stock sales over the following year. In March 2026, he initiated another plan to sell more shares. His career trajectory highlights a pattern of moving between high-level regulatory roles and influential positions in the financial sector. After resigning as CFTC Chairman in early 2021, he joined Citadel Securities as Chief Legal Officer just 27 days later, during a period of intense regulatory scrutiny for the firm. He later joined Circle, aiding its efforts to navigate regulatory challenges for its public listing. While Tarbert's expertise in policy and compliance is valuable to companies like Circle, his actions—advocating long-term confidence while personally divesting—raise questions about the alignment between his public statements and his private financial decisions, leaving investors who followed his advice to bear the market risks.

marsbit1h ago

Former CFTC Chairman, Circle President Tarbert: Preaching Long-Termism While Cashing Out $30 Million Himself

marsbit1h ago

Gate Research Institute: The 'Wall Street-ization' Wave of Crypto Financial Products – Competition or Integration?

The article titled "Gate Research Institute: Are Crypto Financial Products Sparking a 'Wall Street' Wave—Competition or Convergence?" explores the evolving relationship between the crypto ecosystem and traditional finance (TradFi). The piece begins by reflecting on Bitcoin's original 2009 vision of decentralization, disintermediation, and moving away from banks. It then contrasts this with the 2024 landscape, where key crypto assets like Bitcoin are increasingly held through Wall Street products like ETFs issued by giants like BlackRock. The article questions whether this signifies that TradFi is systematically taking over the rights to issue, price, custody, and distribute crypto financial assets. The core argument is that this is not a zero-sum takeover but rather a bidirectional convergence where each side addresses the other's weaknesses. Crypto offers 24/7 global markets, programmable settlement, and open access but lacks compliant channels, institutional-grade custody, deep fiat liquidity, and mainstream distribution. TradFi possesses these but is constrained by legacy systems, limited operating hours, and slow settlement. Two primary convergence paths are highlighted: * **Path A (CEX to TradFi):** Exemplified by Gate, which has progressed from offering tokenized stocks and CFDs to providing direct, real stock trading (US, Hong Kong, South Korea) within its platform, using USDT. * **Path B (TradFi to Crypto):** Exemplified by Robinhood, which has integrated crypto trading, acquired exchanges like Bitstamp, and is moving traditional assets like stocks onto the blockchain via tokenization and its own Layer 2. Both paths are ultimately competing to become the next-generation, unified financial account—a "super account" where users can seamlessly trade cryptocurrencies, stocks, ETFs, RWA (Real World Assets), and tokenized treasury products in one interface. The growth of RWA and tokenized treasuries (e.g., BlackRock's BUIDL) is presented as the asset-layer fusion, providing stable, yield-bearing assets on-chain and acting as a bridge between the two worlds. In conclusion, the "Wall Street-ization" of crypto is framed as a mutual transformation. Decentralized ideals persist in the protocol layer, while at the application layer, a more efficient, global, and accessible unified capital market is emerging from this convergence. The future competition lies not between crypto exchanges and stockbrokers, but between platforms vying to offer the most comprehensive asset coverage, liquidity, and user experience within a single account.

marsbit1h ago

Gate Research Institute: The 'Wall Street-ization' Wave of Crypto Financial Products – Competition or Integration?

marsbit1h ago

Trading

Spot

Hot Articles

Discussions

Welcome to the HTX Community. Here, you can stay informed about the latest platform developments and gain access to professional market insights. Users' opinions on the price of AI (AI) are presented below.

活动图片

Top Questions