Agentic commerce stands to revolutionise how we pay for goods and services – make sure your business is up to speed on its implications.
Merchants are already observing suspected AI agent transactions on their platforms. But the industry has fragmented language for these systems, no agreed accountability framework, and no clear picture of who owns the problem when an AI agent buys something a consumer did not intend.
This report, produced collaboratively by our Merchant Payments Working Group and Payments Intelligence, explores current knowledge around agentic commerce, offers guidance on technical and compliance preparation, and investigates the thorny subject of liability when AI agents make unexpected or unauthorised purchases.
It incorporates original survey data from UK merchants which reveals gaps between understanding, company policies, and regulatory guidance.
With confusion persisting over the impact of agentic commerce, regulators and industry have many challenges to address. Amid these seismic shifts, our report offers merchants and payments professionals a stripped-back guide that will help position their businesses for commercial and compliance success.
The Payments Association’s merchant regulation roadmap for H1 2026 offers a forward-looking view of the legislation and consultations that will shape the compliance landscape.
H1 2026 marks a critical phase for merchant regulation, with developments across contactless payment flexibility, BNPL oversight, APP fraud reimbursement schemes, and mobile ecosystem competition moving from policy design to implementation.
This roadmap highlights the key reforms, timelines, and compliance risks that merchant payment leaders must navigate to stay ahead in an increasingly complex regulatory landscape.
The Payments Association’s working groups are comprised of industry experts from across the payments chain, who share the mission of driving industry change to shape the future payments landscape and improve the industry on behalf of members of the association
Being a member of one of The Payments Association’s working groups comes with a host of benefits:
In addition, committee members will receive:
All working group members are representatives of organisations with The Payments Association membership.
“Merchants once saw payments as a utility – simply a way to complete a sale. But in recent years, that’s changed. Merchants now play a critical role in shaping the payments experience by influencing consumer choice, driving the adoption of innovative payment methods, and raising expectations for speed, cost, and simplicity.
Please fill out the form to indicate your interest in receiving more information about The Payments Association’s Merchant Payments Working Group. A member of our Project Team will be in touch with you shortly.
