Visa Unveils Intelligent Commerce Connect as Mastercard Launches Agent Pay in Asia
V•Visa launched Intelligent Commerce Connect, an all-in-one integration for AI-driven shopping and payments, aiming to simplify agentic payment adoption for businesses. Meanwhile Mastercard’s Agent Pay debuted in Malaysia and Singapore with plans for wider Asia rollout, though consumer trust and evolving regulations remain uptake hurdles.
1. Visa’s Intelligent Commerce Connect rollout
Visa introduced Intelligent Commerce Connect to allow businesses to integrate AI-powered shopping and payments through a single API, targeting SMEs in markets like Singapore, India, and Australia seeking streamlined payment solutions and faster transaction speeds.
2. Mastercard’s Agent Pay expansion across Asia
Mastercard rolled out its Agent Pay solution in Malaysia and Singapore, enabling AI agents to transact on behalf of consumers, with expansion planned across additional Asian markets to capture early adoption and drive growth in the region.
3. Adoption barriers and merchant concerns
Consumer trust remains a hurdle, as fraud risk concerns—with 8% of global consumers avoiding online purchases—could rise when AI handles transactions, while merchants await clear evidence of revenue gains and regulatory frameworks around liability and consent before integrating agentic payments.
