If agents can move money, they become prime targets. Security architecture must mature beyond passwords or API keys. We need layered proof of identity, enforced least privilege, and continuous telemetry that human teams can interrogate. Agent-driven wallets can't rely on luck; they require design that assumes adversaries will probe every gap.
Identity primitives
The foundation is decentralized identifiers (DIDs) paired with verifiable credentials. Each agent carries a DID that references who owns it, which policies govern it, and what attestations it's earned. Credentials might prove that the agent passed KYA, that it belongs to a certain business unit, or that it cleared a security review. Issuers digitally sign those claims. Agents present them when invoking x402 or ACP flows, and merchants can verify authenticity without phoning home.
Credential lifecycle
Identity isn't static. Agents evolve, gain new capabilities, and sometimes misbehave. Security teams need lifecycle tooling to issue, rotate, suspend, and revoke credentials seamlessly. That includes short-lived tokens for high-risk operations, revocation lists that propagate instantly, and audit trails that log why an agent's permissions changed. Without lifecycle discipline, a compromised credential lingers long after an attacker slips inside.
Runtime controls
At runtime, layered controls keep spend in check.
- Policy guardrails: enforce limits by merchant, geography, amount, and time of day.
- Multi-party approvals: require human or automated co-signers for sensitive actions.
- Behavioral analytics: learn agent baselines and flag deviations in real time.
- Hardware-backed signing: leverage secure enclaves or HSMs so private keys never leak.
Defense in depth
Defense in depth means assuming one layer will fail. Encrypt intent payloads end-to-end. Segment treasury infrastructure from general compute. Apply zero-trust principles: every service, even internal, authenticates every call. Simulate breaches with red-team exercises focused on agent impersonation, replay attacks, and prompt injection that tries to coerce agents into leaking credentials. The goal is resilience, not just compliance checkboxes.
Governance and audits
Finally, governance makes the architecture credible. Document which executives can authorize new agents, how incident response engages when an agent is compromised, and what regulators expect. Maintain continuous audit logs that blend technical events with policy context so auditors understand not just what happened but why it was permitted. Publish transparency reports to customers. Trust in agent-driven payments hinges on showing that security is engineered, rehearsed, and accountable.