AI Agent Payments Push American Express Shares Down 5%, First Trust Boosts Stake
American Express shares slid as much as 5% after a Citrini Research scenario suggested AI agents could bypass card fees using stablecoins, stoking concerns over transaction volumes. First Trust Advisors raised its Q3 stake in American Express by 5.3%, adding 66,941 shares to reach 1,322,520 shares.
1. AI Agentic Payments Scenario
A speculative scenario by Citrini Research proposed autonomous AI agents routing around card network fees using stablecoins, suggesting a structural threat to traditional payment networks including American Express.
2. Market Reaction
American Express shares plunged as much as 5% in a single session following the scenario, reflecting investor anxiety over potential shifts in transaction volumes, though the selloff later partially recovered.
3. First Trust Advisors Increases Stake
First Trust Advisors LP boosted its Q3 holdings in American Express by 5.3%, acquiring an additional 66,941 shares to hold a total of 1,322,520 shares, indicating sustained institutional confidence.