AI agents can now use Alchemy autonomously, no humans required

Starting today, AI agents can autonomously access Alchemy infrastructure via x402, purchase compute credits, and access real-time blockchain data across 100+ networks with institutional grade reliability—no human in the loop.

Agentic activity has exploded onchain in the past few months. Agents execute transactions, manage portfolios, and monitor markets across chains without human involvement. Now agents can access the underlying block-perfect data in the same way.

How it works

The new flow uses onchain wallets and programmatic payments:

1. An agent can use its wallet as both identity and payment source.
2. They can then interact with Alchemy’s APIs - RPC, NFT, Portfolio or Prices.
3. If payment is required, Alchemy returns an HTTP 402 response with the amount and payment instructions to top up the “agentic account.”
4. The agent pays in USDC on Base (more chain support coming soon) via x402 — the open payment standard developed by Coinbase for native HTTP payments. Alchemy uses CDP facilitator to verify and settle the payment.
5. Alchemy processes the request and returns the blockchain data, drawing from the newly funded balance.

Subsequent requests work without additional payment until the balance runs out. When it does, the gateway issues a new 402 and the agent tops up automatically.

Agents can start with as little as $1 and add more as needed. No contracts, no approval process, no waiting.

Why this matters

The agentic economy is no longer theoretical. Autonomous agents are managing DeFi positions, monitoring prices across chains, and executing complex multi-step workflows. These agents never sleep, and they’re driving to a world of 100x onchain activity.

Agents are first-class users of blockchain infrastructure, not second-class citizens of human workflows. We built this so agents have access to the most reliable blockchain data on the market.

What’s available at launch

This is an early release, focused on the APIs agents need most:

• Core RPC across all supported chains
• NFT APIs for ownership and metadata queries
• Portfolio APIs for multi-chain wallet views
• Prices APIs for spot and historical token pricing

Agents can purchase compute for as little as $1 (equivalent to $1 of CUs in Alchemy’s pay-as-you-go tier).

Payments are in USDC on Base at launch, and we will be adding more chains in the coming days.

Alchemy skills: documentation for machines

Alongside the gateway, we’re publishing Alchemy Skills: structured, machine-readable reference docs that tell agents what Alchemy can do and how to use our products. Developer documentation, redesigned from the ground up for an audience that isn’t human.

Get started

Explore the gateway, set up payments, and start building at agents.alchemy.com.

This is a first step — more APIs, more chains, and deeper capabilities are coming. We’re building for a future where agents interact with blockchain infrastructure as naturally as developers do today.

Frequently asked questions

What is Alchemy's new autonomous AI agent feature?

Starting today, AI agents can autonomously sign up for and use Alchemy infrastructure without any human involvement, using their onchain wallets for identity and payments via x402.

How do AI agents pay for Alchemy services?

Agents pay in USDC on Base using the x402 open payment standard, starting with as little as $1 in compute credits, and automatically top up when their balance runs low.

Which Alchemy APIs can AI agents access?

Agents can access Core RPC across all supported chains, NFT APIs for ownership and metadata, Portfolio APIs for multi-chain wallet views, and Prices APIs for spot and historical token pricing.

What happens when an AI agent's credits run out?

Alchemy returns an HTTP 402 response with payment instructions, and the agent automatically tops up its balance and continues operating without interruption.

Do AI agents need approval or contracts to use Alchemy?

No, agents can start immediately with no contracts, no approval process, and no waiting, they use their wallet as both identity and payment source.

What are Alchemy Skills?

Alchemy Skills are structured, machine-readable reference documentation that tells agents what Alchemy can do and how to use our products, designed specifically for non-human audiences.

How does the x402 payment standard work with Alchemy?

When payment is required, Alchemy returns an HTTP 402 response with amount and payment instructions, the agent pays in USDC via CDP facilitator, and Alchemy immediately processes the request.

Where can AI agents get started with Alchemy?

Agents can explore the gateway, set up payments, and start building at agents.alchemy.com.