Skyfire, a payment platform created by former Ripple developers, has secured $9.5 million in funding from investors including Coinbase Ventures and a16z’s Crypto Startup Accelerator. The company’s focus is on developing a payment network tailored for AI agents, which are software programs capable of independent decision-making and transactions.
The payment network created by Skyfire allows AI agents to conduct transactions without the need for human involvement, utilizing USDC or traditional banking systems. This advancement is particularly beneficial for the expanding AI agent economy, where these agents are utilized in various sectors like financial services and e-commerce.
Skyfire ensures fully autonomous payments by offering agents secure wallet access and verifiable identities. Additionally, the platform is now integrated with Base, an Ethereum (ETH) layer 2 blockchain developed at Coinbase, providing cost-effective payment channels for all Agent transactions. This collaboration coincides with investments from Coinbase Ventures and the a16z Crypto Startup Accelerator, bringing Skyfire’s total funding to $9.5 million.
For those unfamiliar with AI agents, these systems operate similarly to digital employees, carrying out tasks, making decisions, and handling payments. Skyfire functions as the infrastructure that enables these agents to finalize transactions without human supervision, leading to seamless and cost-effective payments that appeal to enterprise clients.
