In our last post, we discussed how Google’s Agent Payments Protocol (AP2) is building a new trust layer for agent-led commerce. Now, we’ll talk about the second piece of the puzzle: the currency.
Cloudflare, a company that runs much of the Internet’s underlying infrastructure, has introduced NET Dollar—a U.S. dollar-backed stablecoin. This is not simply a foray into cryptocurrency; it’s a strategic move to create a financial medium built for the “agentic web.” While traditional financial systems are too slow and centralized for machine-to-machine transactions, NET Dollar is designed to enable a new business model based on instant, programmatic payments and microtransactions.
Consider how this changes the game for your business:
Real-Time Transactions: The rise of autonomous agents and connected devices requires a medium of exchange that can handle high-frequency, automated payments without human intervention. NET Dollar provides that speed.
Programmable Payments: With NET Dollar, rules, triggers, and workflows can be embedded directly into payments. This means your agents can execute complex, rule-based transactions automatically, such as paying a supplier the moment a delivery is confirmed or securing a software license the moment it’s needed.
A New Business Model: This infrastructure enables entirely new ways to create and capture value. It opens the door for pay-per-use, fractional payments, and automated compensation for original content or services used by other agents, creating a more dynamic and rewarding Internet economy.
For decades, the business model of the Internet ran on ad platforms and bank transfers. The Internet’s next business model will be powered by pay-per-use, fractional payments, and microtransactions—tools that shift incentives toward original, creative content that actually adds value.
Matthew Prince, co-founder and CEO of Cloudflare
The agentic web is no longer a distant concept—it’s here. The trust framework is in place, and the financial rails are being laid. The final, critical question is are you ready to adapt your business to this new reality.
