LoopXPay transaction marks Visa and Lianlian B2B AI payment test

Visa and Lianlian DigiTech said they have completed what they described as China’s first live B2B agentic payment using LoopXPay, Lianlian’s AI agent. The LoopXPay transaction combined product sourcing, supplier selection, order placement and payment execution in one business purchasing workflow, according to the companies.

The announcement points to how payment networks and financial infrastructure providers are beginning to test AI agents in commercial transactions, particularly for small and medium-sized businesses that may not have dedicated procurement teams. Visa and Lianlian said the transaction was conducted within pre-set spending limits and approval rules, while allowing the AI agent to carry out defined purchasing steps.

What is a B2B agentic transaction?

A B2B agentic transaction is a business-to-business purchase in which an AI agent performs tasks on behalf of a company, such as identifying a requirement, assessing suppliers, placing an order and initiating payment. In this case, Visa and Lianlian said the agent acted inside controls set in advance, rather than operating without business oversight.

In the transaction announced by the companies, LoopXPay was used to source a product sample from a supplier and complete the purchase. The agent identified what needed to be bought, recommended suppliers, compared available options, placed the order and then executed the payment securely, according to Visa and Lianlian.

The companies framed the test as a way to reduce administrative work for SMBs while preserving visibility over commercial decisions. Small businesses often handle procurement and payment tasks manually, which can take time away from other operations, according to the announcement.

How Visa’s agent controls fit into the test

Visa and Lianlian said the transaction used capabilities aligned with Visa’s Trusted Agent Protocol, a framework intended to support identity, transparency and control in AI-driven commerce. As AI agents take on more purchasing and payment activity, the companies said businesses will need assurance that transactions are carried out by verified participants and within approved parameters.

As part of the collaboration, Lianlian’s LoopXPay has been registered in Visa’s Agentic Directory. Visa said the directory is designed to allow participating businesses and merchants to identify verified AI agents in the ecosystem and to provide more transparency around agent-led interactions.

Darren Parslow, global head of Visa Commercial Solutions, said AI-powered commerce can help companies simplify purchasing and payments while keeping required controls and oversight. He said trust would be an important condition for business adoption as companies embed more intelligence into purchasing and payment processes.

Zhang Zhengyu, founder, chairman and chief executive of Lianlian DigiTech, said payments are becoming critical infrastructure for AI agents as more commercial activity is executed autonomously. He said Lianlian is building AI-native financial infrastructure covering identity verification, transaction authorisation, intelligent payment and global fund settlement.

Visa and Lianlian said they are also examining further uses for AI agents in commercial activity, including procurement, digital advertising optimisation and payments on B2B platforms. The companies said the broader aim is to support agent-driven commerce with efficiency, transparency and control.

This story draws on original reporting from Finextra Research.