Fiserv and Mastercard Expand Partnership to Advance Agentic Commerce

Fiserv Announces Partnership Expansion with Mastercard

Fiserv and Mastercard Partner to Advance Trusted Agentic Commerce For Merchants

Fiserv, Inc. (NASDAQ: FISV) and Mastercard (NYSE: MA) are extending their partnership to advance agentic commerce...

On December 22, 2025, US payment technology giant Fiserv and Mastercard announced an expanded partnership in the agentic commerce space. Fiserv will become the first major payment processor to adopt Mastercard's Agent Pay Acceptance Framework at scale.

Through this partnership, the technical infrastructure enabling AI agents to securely execute payments on behalf of consumers will be made available to merchants worldwide. Fiserv simultaneously announced a similar partnership with Visa, pursuing a multi-network strategy supporting multiple card networks.

Background and Industry Trends

Agentic commerce refers to a next-generation e-commerce model where AI agents autonomously execute product search, comparison, and purchase based on consumer instructions. Since late 2025, major payment networks and technology companies have successively announced their entry into this space.

According to Visa's research, 47% of US consumers already use AI tools for price comparison and product recommendations. Visa predicts that millions of consumers will complete purchases through AI agents by the 2026 holiday season.

In response to this trend, efforts are accelerating to adapt payment systems - traditionally designed for human operation - to accommodate autonomous transactions by AI agents. As one of the largest payment processors in the US, Fiserv serves millions of merchants through its Clover POS system and e-commerce platforms, making this partnership expected to significantly impact the entire industry.

Technical Details of Mastercard Agent Pay Acceptance Framework

At the core of this partnership is the Mastercard Agent Pay Acceptance Framework. This framework establishes technical standards and governance rules for AI agents to conduct secure transactions within existing card payment systems.

The three main technical elements are:

Network Tokenization: Replaces card numbers with network-issued tokens, enabling transactions without exposing sensitive information. Fiserv integrates with Mastercard's "Secure Card on File" solution, functioning as a network token requester on behalf of merchants and partners.

Strong Authentication Mechanisms: Distinguishes legitimate AI agents from malicious automated bots. Evaluates agent authorization status and transaction parameters to verify that transactions are intended by consumers.

Fraud Prevention Controls: Validates AI-initiated transactions on existing card network rails to prevent fraudulent transactions. Works alongside traditional fraud detection systems while also adapting to new transaction patterns.

Chiro Aikat, Mastercard US Co-President, stated: "These technologies simplify transactions, reduce friction, and enable businesses to deliver faster, more personalized experiences."

Relationship with Visa Partnership

Fiserv simultaneously announced a strategic partnership with Visa. Visa's Trusted Agent Protocol, like Mastercard's framework, is an open framework for enabling secure payments by AI agents.

The Trusted Agent Protocol distinguishes trusted agents from malicious bots, verifying that all interactions are authorized by consumers and that payment information hasn't been tampered with. By adopting both protocols, Fiserv enables merchants to accept a wide range of agentic commerce transactions without being locked into a specific card network.

Sanjay Saraf, SVP and Global Chief Product Officer at Fiserv, commented: "Together, we're helping merchants of all sizes participate confidently in this new era of commerce, unlocking growth through trusted standards and programmable payments."

Impact on E-commerce Operators

This partnership has the following practical implications for e-commerce operators:

Compatibility with Existing Infrastructure: Merchants using Fiserv platforms (Clover POS and e-commerce solutions) can accept AI agent-initiated transactions without building custom logic. Transactions are processed through standard authorization, settlement, and reconciliation flows.

Reduced Implementation Costs: No need to develop proprietary systems for agentic commerce compatibility - merchants can leverage Fiserv's integrated services. This significantly lowers barriers to entry into the AI commerce era, even for small and medium-sized businesses.

Maintaining Customer Relationships and New Revenue Opportunities: The Mastercard Agent Pay Acceptance Framework is designed to enable merchants to develop new revenue streams while maintaining control over customer relationships.

Availability Timeline: Visa will begin pilot programs in Asia Pacific and Europe in early 2026, with full deployment planned for the 2026 holiday season. Specific service launch dates through Fiserv are expected to be announced later.

Summary

The expanded partnership between Fiserv and Mastercard marks an important milestone in agentic commerce's transition from proof-of-concept to full commercial deployment. The simultaneous adoption of AI commerce frameworks from major card networks by one of the world's largest payment processors is expected to accelerate the establishment and adoption of industry standards.

For e-commerce operators, it's important to confirm whether your payment infrastructure can accommodate agentic commerce as preparation for 2026. Merchants using Fiserv solutions are particularly likely to gain AI commerce capabilities without additional development, making future service announcements highly anticipated.

References

• Fiserv and Mastercard Partner to Advance Trusted Agentic Commerce For Merchants (Fiserv Official Press Release)
• Fiserv Collaborates with Visa to Accelerate Agentic Commerce (Fiserv Official Press Release)
• Visa and Partners Complete Secure AI Transactions (Visa Official Announcement)
• Fiserv Integrates Mastercard Agent Pay Into Merchant Platform (PYMNTS)
• Fiserv Adopts Agentic Commerce Protocols From Visa and Mastercard (Digital Transactions)