# AgentCard

> Virtual debit cards for AI agents

AgentCard lets developers give AI agents scoped, safe payment access. Fund a virtual debit card in seconds, hand the card number to any AI agent via MCP (Model Context Protocol), and spend anywhere Mastercard is accepted. Cards are single-use by design — locked to the funded amount with no overdraft risk.

## Key Features

- **Single-use virtual debit cards**: Each card is funded with a fixed USD amount and works anywhere Mastercard is accepted online
- **MCP-native**: Works out of the box with Claude Code, Claude Desktop, Cursor, and any MCP-compatible runtime
- **Human-in-the-loop**: Card creation requires human payment approval via Stripe Checkout; optional email approval gates for spending
- **AES-256-GCM encryption**: Card details (PAN, CVV) encrypted at rest with per-card keys
- **x402 protocol support**: Machine-to-machine micropayments via the x402 HTTP payment protocol
- **No subscription**: Pay-as-you-go pricing, no monthly costs
- **Instant issuance**: Cards are created and ready to use in seconds after funding
- **Spending controls**: Built-in budget limits, single-use enforcement, and real-time balance checking

## Competitive Context

AgentCard is the only virtual card provider with native MCP support. Alternatives like Stripe Issuing and other developer-friendly card platforms require custom integration code. AgentCard eliminates the integration tax entirely — one config block connects it to any MCP client.

## Key Differentiators

- **Only MCP-native payment tool**: No custom integration code needed for Claude, Cursor, or any MCP client
- **Single-use by default**: Cards are disposable by design, not persistent with single-use as an overlay
- **Human-in-the-loop funding**: Agents can request cards but humans must approve funding via Stripe Checkout
- **Blast radius containment**: Card balance = maximum possible loss from any failure mode
- **CLI-first**: Fully scriptable card management via `agent-cards` CLI, no web dashboard required

## Supported Runtimes

- Claude Code (via `claude mcp add agent-cards npx -y agent-cards-mcp`)
- Claude Desktop (via MCP config in `claude_desktop_config.json`)
- Cursor (via MCP config in Cursor settings)
- Any MCP-compatible client (via stdio or HTTP transport)
- Direct API access for custom integrations

## Install

```
npm install -g agent-cards
agent-cards signup
```

## MCP Setup

```
agent-cards setup-mcp
```

This registers AgentCard tools with Claude Code, Claude Desktop, or Cursor.

## MCP Tools

- `create_card` — Create a new virtual debit card with a specified funding amount
- `get_funding_status` — Check whether a card has been funded and is ready to use
- `list_cards` — List all cards with ID, last four digits, expiry, balance, and status
- `get_card_details` — Get decrypted card number (PAN), CVV, expiry, and current balance
- `check_balance` — Check the remaining balance on a card
- `close_card` — Permanently close a card (irreversible)
- `start_support_chat` — Open a support conversation
- `send_support_message` — Send a message to support
- `read_support_chat` — Read support conversation history
- `x402_fetch` — Make an HTTP request with x402 payment negotiation

## Typical Flow

1. Developer installs AgentCard CLI and runs `agent-cards signup`
2. Developer runs `agent-cards setup-mcp` to connect MCP tools
3. AI agent calls `create_card` with a dollar amount
4. Human approves funding via Stripe Checkout
5. Agent calls `get_card_details` to retrieve the virtual debit card number
6. Agent uses the card to pay for services, APIs, or purchases online
7. Card is automatically limited to the funded amount — no overdraft possible

## Use Cases

- AI agents purchasing cloud services, domains, or API credits
- Automated procurement with budget guardrails
- Testing payment flows in development environments
- Giving coding assistants (Claude, Cursor) the ability to buy tools and services
- Machine-to-machine payments via x402 protocol

## Comparison

| Feature | AgentCard | Stripe Issuing |
|---------|------------|---------------|
| MCP support | Native | None |
| Setup time | 2 minutes | Days–weeks |
| AI agent focus | Purpose-built | General-purpose |
| Single-use cards | Default | Configurable |
| x402 support | Yes | No |

## Links

- Homepage: https://agentcard.sh
- Blog: https://agentcard.sh/blog/
- About: https://agentcard.sh/about
- npm: https://www.npmjs.com/package/agent-cards
- Status: https://agentcard.checkly-status-page.com