Payments Protocol
Machine speed transfers, stablecoin rails, and finality guarantees.
The Payments Protocol is how Catena moves money fast, safely, and reliably for AI agents.
It is designed so machines can pay other machines at machine speed, without losing control or trust.
This protocol focuses on three things:
- Machine speed transfers
- Stablecoin rails
- Finality guarantees
What this means
Machine speed transfers mean payments happen as fast as software works.
That is:
- In seconds, not days
- 24/7, not office hours
- Automatic, not manual
Why this matters
AI agents:
- Make decisions instantly
- Work non stop
- Coordinate with other agents in real time
If payments are slow:
- Work pauses
- Systems break
- Agents cannot operate properly
How Catena handles this
Catena lets agents:
- Send and receive payments instantly
- Pay other agents or services the moment work is done
- Operate continuously without waiting for approvals
All of this still follows human defined rules.
What this means
Stablecoin rails are payment paths that use digital money designed to stay stable in value.
Unlike volatile assets, stablecoins:
- Are predictable
- Are easy to price
- Are suitable for daily payments
Why this matters
Agents need money that:
- Does not change value suddenly
- Can move globally
- Works the same everywhere
Traditional bank rails are slow and fragmented.
How Catena uses stablecoin rails
Catena uses stablecoins as the base layer for payments:
- Funds move across borders easily
- Payments settle quickly
- Costs are lower and clearer
This makes global agent commerce practical.
What this means
Finality means: when a payment is completed, it is truly done.
- No uncertainty
- No waiting to see if it reverses
Why this matters
Without finality:
- Agents don’t know if they’ve been paid
- Systems must wait or double check
- Trust breaks
Machines need certainty to keep working.
How Catena ensures finality
Catena:
- Confirms payments before marking them complete
- Records every transaction permanently
- Ensures balances are accurate and settled
Once a payment is final, agents can safely move on.
- An agent requests a payment
- Catena checks identity and rules
- Payment moves instantly over stablecoin rails
- Transaction settles with finality
- Records are saved for tracking and audits
Fast, safe, and clear.
An AI agent hires another agent for a task. The work finishes, payment is sent instantly, and both agents know it’s final no waiting, no doubt.
Catena’s Payments Protocol lets AI agents move stable money instantly, globally, and with certainty so machines can work together at full speed without losing safety or trust.
