Stripe and Tempo have launched the Machine Payments Protocol (MPP), an open standard enabling AI agents to transact programmatically without human intervention. The protocol addresses a critical gap as autonomous agents evolve beyond chatbots to execute complex tasks and make independent decisions in the internet economy.

MPP provides a specification for agents and services to coordinate payments directly, supporting microtransactions, recurring payments, and various payment methods including stablecoins and traditional cards. Stripe users can implement MPP using their existing PaymentIntents API, with transactions appearing in the standard Stripe dashboard alongside human payments.

Early adopters showcase MPP's potential: Browserbase enables agents to pay per browser session, PostalForm handles automated mail printing payments, and Prospect Butcher Co. accepts agent orders for New York City sandwich delivery. The protocol also powers Stripe Climate contributions and Parallel Web Systems' autonomous web access. MPP joins Stripe's broader agent-focused infrastructure including the Agentic Commerce Protocol and MCP integrations, positioning the company to capture emerging agent-driven business models.