Ripple Backs $5M AI Funding Round to Power Automated Economy
Ripple has joined a $5 million seed funding round for t54 Labs, a San Francisco-based startup building what it calls a “trust layer” for the emerging agentic finance economy.
Key Takeaways
- Ripple joined a $5M seed round for t54 Labs, targeting AI-driven finance.
- t54 is building “Know Your Agent” identity and risk tools for autonomous AI transactions.
- The infrastructure runs on XRPL, Solana, and Base, enabling machine-to-machine payments.
- Evernorth plans to use it for autonomous treasury management on XRPL.
- The move positions Ripple for growth in the emerging agentic economy.
The round was co-led by Anagram, PL Capital, and Franklin Templeton, with additional backing from Blockchain Coinvestors, Virtuals Ventures, and ABCDE.
Founded in January 2025 by Chandler Fang, t54 Labs operates with a 12-person team and focuses on identity verification and compliance infrastructure for autonomous AI agents – a segment increasingly viewed as critical as artificial intelligence systems begin executing financial transactions without human intervention.
Building a Trust Layer for AI Agents
t54 Labs is developing the infrastructure required for AI agents to interact with financial markets independently while meeting institutional compliance standards.
At the center of its offering is a “Know Your Agent” (KYA) framework, designed to verify the identity of autonomous agents in a way that mirrors traditional KYC processes for individuals and companies. The platform also includes a real-time risk engine that monitors transactions and flags suspicious behavior before settlement occurs.
Beyond identity and monitoring, the startup plans to introduce credit lines for verified agents. These would be based on an agent’s identity credentials, historical transaction activity, and risk score, effectively creating a reputation-based financial profile for machine entities.
The system is already integrated across multiple networks, including the XRP Ledger, Solana, and Base, positioning it as chain-agnostic infrastructure for automated finance.
Strategic Partnerships Signal Institutional Intent
One of the most notable early use cases comes from Evernorth, which plans to deploy t54’s infrastructure for autonomous treasury management on the XRP Ledger. The initiative aims to manage more than $1 billion in institutional XRP holdings through AI-driven rebalancing systems.
t54 Labs has also introduced x402-secure, an open-source component designed for the x402 Protocol. The protocol enables AI agents to execute machine-to-machine payments – such as API calls or compute resources – without manual approval, a step seen as foundational for the automated economy.
The newly raised capital will be used to expand engineering capacity and hire a developer relations lead, supporting product development and deeper institutional partnerships.
Ripple’s Bet on the Agentic Economy
Ripple’s participation is widely interpreted as a calculated move into what analysts are calling the “agentic economy” – a 2026 landscape in which autonomous AI systems are projected to handle more than 40% of enterprise workflows.
Industry observers argue that AI agents cannot easily operate within traditional banking rails, particularly when it comes to holding accounts or settling payments in real time. As a result, they are increasingly gravitating toward stablecoins and high-performance blockchains for instant settlement.
By supporting infrastructure that integrates directly with the XRP Ledger, Ripple appears to be positioning XRPL and its native assets as a preferred settlement layer for machine-to-machine commerce. The integration of the x402 protocol further expands this narrative, allowing AI agents to pay for digital services autonomously and instantly.
Co-investment alongside Franklin Templeton also signals alignment between crypto-native firms and traditional asset managers. Analysts suggest that this convergence could accelerate adoption of autonomous treasury systems, where AI agents dynamically rebalance portfolios and manage liquidity in real time.
Market Context and Economic Risks
The broader market opportunity is significant. Agentic AI is projected to drive up to $3 trillion in corporate productivity by 2026, while the Fintech-as-a-Service sector is expected to approach $484.71 billion this year.
However, some researchers warn that rapid adoption of agent-driven finance could disrupt existing economic models. Reports indicate that while AI agents may reduce operational costs by as much as 70%, they could also create feedback loops that pressure traditional business structures if governance frameworks lag behind innovation.
For Ripple and its partners, the long-term thesis centers less on short-term price movements and more on institutional trust. While XRP price forecasts for 2026 vary widely – ranging from $3 to $8 among some Wall Street analysts – the stronger consensus focuses on infrastructure. The belief is that scalable on-chain identity, compliance standards, and automated settlement capabilities will ultimately determine whether autonomous finance moves from experimentation to mainstream adoption.
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Alex is an experienced financial journalist and cryptocurrency enthusiast. With over 8 years of experience covering the crypto, blockchain, and fintech industries, he is well-versed in the complex and ever-evolving world of digital assets. His insightful and thought-provoking articles provide readers with a clear picture of the latest developments and trends in the market. His approach allows him to break down complex ideas into accessible and in-depth content. Follow his publications to stay up to date with the most important trends and topics.
