Skyfire, a startup founded by former Google and Ripple executives, has officially launched its payments network, which allows AI agents to carry out autonomous transactions.
AI agents, designed to perform specific tasks, answer questions, and automate processes for users, are becoming increasingly prevalent. However, Skyfire points out that these agents have a significant limitation: they cannot make or receive payments without human intervention.
To address this challenge, Skyfire has developed a comprehensive payments infrastructure that enables seamless, autonomous transactions within AI-driven economies. The company’s operating layer provides essential components for AI commerce, such as secure wallet access, verifiable agent identity, and an open payment protocol for service requests, purchasing decisions, and instant transactions without the need for human oversight.
Amir Sarhangi, CEO of Skyfire, emphasizes, “It’s become evident that large language models (LLMs) and agents face one major barrier that Skyfire immediately resolves: access. The true potential of transformative technologies is unlocked when agents can pay for services, whether they’re navigating websites, accessing paywalls, or using paid applications.”
Sarhangi notes that AI agents represent a new type of internet consumer crucial for the AI economy. He argues that traditional payment systems were not designed for this type of economy and struggle to meet the scale and speed demanded by AI technologies. Skyfire aims to fill this gap by providing AI-driven enterprises with a global, programmable, and scalable financial infrastructure.
Sarhangi and co-founder Craig DeWitt previously collaborated at Ripple. Sarhangi also founded Jibe Mobile, which was acquired by Google and has since served as a foundation for Android Messenger.
After successfully raising $8.5 million in funding last year and gaining significant traction during its beta phase, Skyfire is now ready for a full rollout.
DeWitt highlights, “AI has unique payment and identity requirements different from anything we’ve encountered before. Skyfire’s infrastructure is not just an enhancement; it represents a complete rethinking of how AI agents will access and pay for services.”