Stripe unveils AI-driven agentic economy and expands Japan payment options

At Stripe Tour Tokyo 2026, Stripe announced a strategic shift toward an ‘agentic economy,’ where AI agents act as autonomous economic entities capable of making purchases, managing payments, and deploying software products.

To facilitate this, Stripe introduced the Machine Payments Protocol (MPP) to allow AI agents to process transactions directly without human intervention. The company is also integrating its digital wallet, Link, to enable consumers to delegate payment authority to AI agents while maintaining control. Additionally, the new Stripe Projects platform aims to streamline service development by allowing AI to automate complex deployment processes.

Regarding the Japanese market, Stripe announced expanded support for five major local code payment methods: d-barai, au PAY, Rakuten Pay, Merpay, and AEON Pay. The company also revealed plans to launch Stripe Capital in Japan by early 2027 in partnership with Mitsui Sumitomo Card, providing business funding and cash flow management tools to its users.