Locus Emerges with Agentic Payment Infrastructure, Tapped to Power Future AI Economy

Aaron Epstein, a prominent figure, has lauded Locus, a Y Combinator-backed startup, for its pioneering work in agentic payments, predicting it will become the "default way for agents to pay." Epstein's tweet highlights the nascent company's potential to power a significant portion of the future economy, underscoring the growing importance of autonomous AI transactions. He extended congratulations to founders Cole Dermott and Eliot Lee on their launch.

Locus (YC F25) is actively developing payment infrastructure specifically designed for artificial intelligence agents. The company aims to provide a secure control layer that enables AI agents to safely connect to funds, enforcing budgets, permissions, and offering full auditability across various financial rails, including USDC, ACH, and wire transfers. Currently in beta, Locus is initially focusing on USDC-native payments, with plans to integrate fiat and custody options in the near future.

The concept of agentic payments involves AI-powered digital agents managing, authorizing, and executing payments autonomously on behalf of individuals or organizations. This innovation is gaining traction across the financial industry, with major players like Google, Mastercard, Visa, and PayPal introducing their own protocols and solutions. These systems are crucial for a future where AI agents will need to pay for services, purchase e-commerce items, or make micropayments without direct human intervention.

Founded by Cole Dermott, formerly of Coinbase, and Eliot Lee, who previously worked at Scale AI, Locus was established on the premise that current payment systems, built for humans, are inadequate for autonomous AI actors. Their solution addresses the critical need for secure and controlled financial transactions by AI, preventing issues such as overspending or incorrect vendor payments. The company's work aligns with the broader industry trend of adapting financial infrastructure for the machine economy.