On Wednesday, Coinbase launched Agentic Wallets, a new wallet infrastructure that enables AI agents to autonomously execute on-chain transactions like holding funds, processing payments, and trading tokens. Built on the x402 framework, it offers plug-and-play wallets with preset controls and Smart Security Guardrails for spending limits and secure private key isolation. The system is designed to bridge the gap between AI capability and real-world financial execution, supporting EVM chains and Solana at launch with gasless transactions on Base.
Coinbase launched Agentic Wallets on Wednesday, enabling AI agents to autonomously perform on-chain actions without human involvement. The new infrastructure is designed to close the gap between AI capability and real-world financial execution.
These wallets allow agents to hold funds, process payments, trade tokens, and manage yield strategies. Coinbase stated the feature includes strict security guardrails to prevent misuse.
Developers Erik Reppel and Josh Nickerson said, “current AI tools often stop when money is required.” They noted that agents can answer questions but cannot complete financial tasks, which Agentic Wallets aims to solve.
The product builds on Coinbase’s x402 protocol, supporting autonomous crypto payments without human approval. It also expands on AgentKit, which previously allowed developers to embed wallets into agents.
The system enables continuous activity, such as rebalancing funds when opportunities appear. Users set permissions in advance, and agents operate within those limits, shifting from advisory to active operational roles.
Agentic Wallets will support EVM chains and Solana at launch, offering gasless transactions on Base, Coinbase’s Layer 2 network. A command-line interface is included for monitoring agent activity and deploying new skills.
Coinbase released an accompanying agent-wallet-skills repository with basic functions for immediate agent use. This helps developers quickly set up autonomous behavior and standardize agent-wallet interactions.
Smart Security Guardrails incorporate spending limits and session caps, with users able to program additional controls. Private keys remain securely isolated inside Coinbase infrastructure through enclave isolation, not exposed to prompts or large language models.
The developers stated AI agents are now easier to create, citing an industry shift from guiding users to executing tasks. Company guardrails ensure agents remain within trusted boundaries while performing these actions.
The x402 protocol has processed 50 million transactions since last year, according to the company. It was updated in December with broader support for legacy payment rails.
Coinbase and Cloudflare launched the x402 Foundation in September to promote system adoption. Separately, Coinbase Developer Platform introduced Payments MCP to allow major language models to access blockchain wallets.
