Algorand Foundation launches AC2 protocol for secure AI agent communication

The Algorand Foundation has launched AC2 (Agentic Communication and Control Protocol), an open-source, blockchain-agnostic standard designed for secure peer-to-peer communication between users and AI agents.

As AI agents increasingly perform tasks such as executing payments, signing code, and managing digital operations, existing messaging platforms often lack cryptographic identity verification. AC2 addresses this by establishing an end-to-end encrypted WebRTC connection between a user’s wallet or application and an AI agent. This allows users to review and approve specific signing operations—such as API authorizations or financial transactions—without ever relinquishing control of their private keys.

The protocol supports various agentic workflows, including coding agents requesting signature approval for published code and shopping agents managing transaction details through a user's digital wallet. AC2 utilizes DIDComm v2.0 message formats and passkey authentication via FIDO2 and WebAuthn to ensure security.