Visa’s Trusted Agent Protocol to authenticate AI shopping agents and help prevent fraud across Akamai Cloud, strengthening the trust layer in agentic commerceCAMBRIDGE, Mass., Dec. 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Akamai Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: AKAM), the cybersecurity and cloud computing company that powers and protects business online, today announced a strategic collaboration with Visa Inc. (NYSE: V) to bring stronger identity, user recognition, and security controls to the emerging world of agentic comm ...

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Core Insights - Visa Inc. has launched the Trusted Agent Protocol to enhance secure communication between AI agents and merchants, facilitating agent-driven commerce [1][2] - The protocol aims to improve frictionless interactions in intelligent payments, with significant growth in AI-powered retail traffic [2] - Trusted Agent Protocol allows approved agents to securely transmit critical information to merchants, distinguishing them from malicious entities [3] Group 1: Protocol Features - The protocol enables merchants to recognize trusted agents and verify their credentials without overhauling existing systems [4] - It incorporates agent-specific cryptographic signatures to ensure secure transactions [4] - Key components include agent intent, consumer recognition, and payment information to streamline the purchasing process [5] Group 2: Industry Impact - AI-driven traffic to retail websites in the U.S. increased by over 4,700% in the past year, indicating a significant shift towards AI in commerce [2] - 85% of consumers using AI for shopping reported an enhanced experience, showcasing the growing acceptance of AI in retail [2] - Visa collaborated with various partners, including major payment and technology companies, to develop the protocol [3]

Core Insights - Visa Inc. is launching the Trusted Agent Protocol to enhance security in AI-driven commerce, developed in collaboration with Cloudflare [1][8] - The protocol aims to help merchants verify the authenticity of AI agents, addressing the challenge of distinguishing between trustworthy agents and harmful bots [2][4] - Early partners like Microsoft, Shopify, Stripe, Coinbase, and Worldpay have contributed to the protocol's design, promoting an open and interoperable system [3][8] Company Positioning - Visa is positioning itself as a leader in digital payments by fostering trust in AI-driven commerce, potentially becoming a foundational element for future commerce [4] - Visa's stock has increased by 24.6% over the past year, outperforming the industry average of 1% [7] Competitor Landscape - Competitors such as Mastercard and Affirm are also advancing their AI commerce strategies, with Mastercard introducing the Agent Pay protocol and Affirm supporting Google's Agent Payments Protocol [5][6] Financial Performance - Visa trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 26.59, above the industry average of 21.23, and has a Value Score of D [9] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Visa's fiscal 2025 earnings indicates a 13.7% increase from the previous year [11]