UnionPay Launches "Agentic Payment Open Protocol": Building an Open and Trusted Intelligent Payment Ecosystem

Shanghai, (ANTARA/PRNewswire) - On 2 April, users testing a service in Hong Kong, China, successfully made a taxi booking transaction through a special scheme. By inputting travel details into an AI assistant developed by technology company Evonet, the user immediately received a list of taxi options along with fare estimates from the online transportation platform Hoppa, complete with booking option recommendations.

As a global-reaching international card network, UnionPay has officially launched the Agentic Payment Open Protocol (APOP) framework—UnionPay’s AI agent-based payment solution—which leverages platform capabilities and neutrality principles.

Four key features forming the foundation of trust mechanisms and interaction models in AI agent-based payment transaction solutions

APOP introduces an integrated trust mechanism while unifying the interaction paradigm in the AI agent-based payment ecosystem. Through trusted pathways, APOP connects AI agents, merchants, financial institutions, and compatible technology platforms. As a result, all parties integrate in a plug-and-play manner and participate in complex payment transactions easily and securely. Specifically, APOP incorporates four main features.

First, APOP supports the management of the AI agent identity lifecycle, from registration and data updates to deactivation. Second, through comprehensive intent management—from creation and registration to verification—APOP builds a user-intent-centred trust mechanism. Third, APOP manages user identities more efficiently. APOP supports single sign-on (SSO) for various actors such as AI agents, merchants, and financial institutions, along with credential-sharing mechanisms while preserving privacy and security. Fourth, APOP provides comprehensive payment authorisation services, including activation authentication for AI agent-based payment transactions, debit processes, and user consent verification.

Global industry players collaborate to build an open and secure AI agent-based payment ecosystem

APOP emphasises principles of openness and interoperability. Leveraging UnionPay’s global transaction acceptance network, APOP develops industry standards and creates an inclusive system that supports cross-institutional, cross-platform interoperability, and various usage scenarios, both within and outside mainland China.

Additionally, there are four other principles underpinning APOP’s design. First, regulatory compliance and control. AI agent-based payments must adhere to applicable regulations to align with policy developments. Second, security as the top priority. Through AI agent identity verification and intent management, the system ensures all processes are understandable, traceable, and fully reconstructible. Third, trust enhancement. APOP clearly defines the responsibilities, rights, and risks of all stakeholders as the basis for dispute resolution. Fourth, broad compatibility. Various access solutions are available so participants can integrate efficiently and seamlessly, while maintaining high scalability.

According to Dong Junfeng, Chairman of China UnionPay, UnionPay will continue to advance the vision of “Trusted Ties, Shared Success” through collaborations with industry partners to capture the opportunities presented by AI transformations. Through these collaborations, UnionPay is charting a new direction for secure, managed, inclusive, efficient, and globally connected AI agent-based payment transactions, while propelling the payment industry to a new level in the AI era.

SOURCE UnionPay International