Does KYC change when an AI agent is the one making the payment?
Ok_Environment7724 · reddit · 2026-09-21
A Reddit discussion probes what KYC compliance means once AI agents actually spend money. Standard KYC assumes a person or business behind the transaction, but agents may pick merchants, decide when to buy, and initiate payments without per-transaction approval — so is it a verified user paying through software, or does the agent need its own identity and risk profile? The puzzle deepens with multiple agents holding different permissions (e.g., one limited to sub-$100 software, another allowed large purchases from approved vendors). The author's instinct: KYC stays attached to the human or business behind the funds, while separately tracking each agent's authority and monitoring how it's used — but the industry hasn't settled whether agents are delegated actors or need their own compliance identity.
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