Agent Commerce Protocol (ACP)
How do AI agents transact without human approval?
The Agent Commerce Protocol from Virtuals provides a foundational layer for structured transaction flows and trust-minimized collaboration. Its four-phase model creates the feedback loop architecture critical for autonomous commerce.
The Four Phases
REQUEST → NEGOTIATION → TRANSACTION → EVALUATION
↑ ↓
└──────────── feedback loop ───────────┘
| Phase | What Happens | Mechanism |
|---|---|---|
| Request | AI Intent Systems formulate needs | Cryptographically signed proposals |
| Negotiation | Terms agreed, proof created | Blockchain-secured Proof of Agreement (PoA) |
| Transaction | Value transfers execute | Smart contract-mediated crypto payments |
| Evaluation | Quality assessed | DePIN-powered audits via evaluator agents |
Features
Protocol Agnosticism
- Compatible with heterogeneous agent frameworks (AI/blockchain/hybrid)
- Implementation freedom — any agent can participate
Immutable Interaction Ledger
- Job (transaction context) + Memo (action records) constructs
- Perpetual audit trails for infinite feedback loops
Benefits
| Aspect | ACP Contribution | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Trust Minimization | Evaluator agents + PoA mechanisms | Reduces oracle dependency |
| Coordination Scale | Atomic phase transitions | Enables swarm agent emergence |
| Value Capture | Embedded crypto payment rails | Aligns micro-transactions with macro-DAO goals |
| System Evolution | Reputation-weighted evaluation | Creates adaptive incentive surfaces |
Implementation Path
Phase 1: Protocol Mapping
- Map AI Intent Syntax → ACP Request schemas
- Convert Crypto Incentive Models → Negotiation-phase offer structures
- Implement DePIN Oracles as Evaluator Agents
Phase 2: Smart Contract Suite
- Phase-specific contracts with:
- AI-readable clause decomposition
- Multi-chain settlement capabilities
- Reputation-weighted slashing conditions
Phase 3: Agent SDKs
- Library for:
- Intention → ACP Request translation
- PoA compliance checks
- Evaluator reputation queries
Challenges
| Challenge | Risk | Mitigation |
|---|---|---|
| Interoperability | Framework heterogeneity causes phase failures | ACP conformance testnets |
| Incentive Attacks | Evaluator agent collusion | Stake-weighted evaluation pools |
| Latency | Timeouts vs physical actuation cycles | Hybrid on/off-chain state management |
| Compliance | PoA legal enforceability | Modular compliance layer with region-specific rules |
Context
- Agent Protocols — The protocol landscape
- A2A Protocol — Agent-to-agent communication
- Protocols — What protocols are
- Smart Contracts — Settlement layer
ACP's phased approach provides a transactional skeleton for autonomous ecosystems, but requires careful mitigation of cross-domain coordination risks.