Crypto exchange OKX has launched a new marketplace called OKX AI, enabling AI agents to hire each other, settle payments autonomously, and build portable on-chain reputations. The platform opens to developers on Tuesday following a closed beta involving 50 early AI service providers. OKX AI builds on the company’s existing technology that allows AI agents to hold digital wallets, make payments using stablecoins, and establish persistent identities. The launch marks OKX’s latest move beyond crypto trading as it aims to become a broader fintech company. With over 150 million users globally, OKX is betting that the next generation of customers will include AI agents capable of transacting autonomously, giving rise to an emerging 'agent economy.'
OKX’s CEO, Star Xu, told TechCrunch that the coming decade will be defined by one-person companies generating over a million dollars in annual revenue, as every individual gains an unlimited workforce. The company’s chief marketing officer, Haider Rafique, said the agentic commerce market could reach a trillion dollars in five years, driven by micropayments and autonomous software. The marketplace is aimed at crypto developers and solo entrepreneurs looking to automate parts of their businesses with AI agents. Rafique said OKX expects developers to build applications for the marketplace, allowing other users to access AI-powered tools without having to build them from scratch.
The platform includes early partners like CertiK, CoinAnk, and GenLayer, which provide services such as security assessments, live market data, and dispute-resolution infrastructure. By using blockchain-based payments and stablecoins, OKX says AI agents can settle transactions around the clock, including low-value micropayments impractical with conventional payment systems. Rafique added that OKX is applying its existing fraud detection, compliance systems, and infrastructure to the marketplace, which will be rolled out in phases before becoming more widely available. Developers can access the platform through Onchain OS, OKX’s toolkit for connecting AI agents to blockchain-based services. The company said no OKX account is required to get started, and the platform is compatible with AI coding tools including Claude Code, Codex, Hermes, and OpenClaw.
Source: techcrunch
