US Lawmakers Scrutinize AI Agents Moving Money

AI agents are evolving from advisory tools into software capable of ordering goods, initiating payments and settling transactions for consumers and businesses. That shift makes verifiable identity, delegated authority and legal accountability central regulatory concerns. Stablecoins, smart contracts and tokenized assets could supply programmable, around-the-clock infrastructure, but they also raise questions about erroneous transfers, fraud controls and who bears responsibility when an autonomous system acts beyond its mandate.

The U.S. House Financial Services Committee examined those issues at a hearing beginning at 10 a.m. ET on Sept. 2, 2026. Circle President Heath Tarbert said AI agents need fast, programmable payment rails that do not close overnight or on holidays. Republican Representative Bryan Steil pressed him on stablecoin settlement rules, while Democratic Representative Bill Foster called traceable agent identity essential. New York Stock Exchange President Lynn Martin said the exchange is developing a platform linking tokenized equities directly to their underlying shares.