Tempo has moved its blockchain infrastructure into live production, which means it is now shifting from testing to real-world deployment. The payments-focused network, developed with backing from Stripe and Paradigm, went live on Wednesday alongside the release of a new standard designed for automated transactions between software systems.
The launch introduces both Tempo Mainnet and the Machine Payments Protocol (MPP), a framework that allows artificial intelligence agents and digital services to send and receive payments without manual intervention.
Tempo Mainnet is live! Starting today, anyone can build on Tempo through our public RPC endpoints.
— Tempo (@tempo) March 18, 2026
Alongside mainnet, we’re introducing the Machine Payments Protocol, an open standard for machine payments. pic.twitter.com/Ax2qEIBcwp
Mainnet goes live after testing phase
Tempo’s transition to mainnet follows a public test period that began in December, as HodlFM reported. During that phase, companies such as Mastercard, Visa, UBS, and Klarna tested stablecoin-based transactions across use cases like payouts and cross-border transfers.
The network now processes live transactions. It aims to handle high transaction volumes with predictable costs and continuous availability. Tempo positions its infrastructure as purpose-built for payments rather than general blockchain activity, with a focus on stablecoins tied to fiat currencies like the U.S. dollar.
The system targets common financial workflows that remain complex in traditional systems. Cross-border payments often pass through several intermediaries and take days to settle. Large-scale payouts require coordination across multiple rails. Tempo’s design seeks to reduce those frictions with faster settlement and lower operational overhead.
Machine Payments Protocol introduced
Alongside the mainnet launch, Tempo and Stripe introduced the Machine Payments Protocol, an open standard that enables programmatic payments between machines.
The protocol supports both fiat and cryptocurrency transactions and integrates with Stripe’s existing infrastructure. It currently operates on Tempo but is designed to function across different blockchains and payment systems.
Matt Huang, cofounder of Tempo and managing partner at Paradigm, described the early stage of this category in comments to Fortune.
“Agentic payments is very early, and we still are figuring out the best way to structure these,” he said. “So our team just came up with what we thought was the most elegant, minimal, efficient protocol that anyone can extend without our permission.”
The system defines how services request, authorize, and settle payments between each other. Instead of each platform building its own billing logic, MPP introduces a shared structure that developers can adopt.
Rise of agentic payments shapes design
The protocol arrives as interest grows in “agentic payments,” a model where AI agents execute transactions on behalf of users. These agents can perform tasks such as purchasing data, paying for compute resources, or coordinating multi-step workflows across services.
In such environments, payments become continuous rather than one-time events. A single workflow may require dozens or hundreds of microtransactions. Existing payment systems and many blockchains struggle with this pattern due to fluctuating fees and limited throughput.
Tempo’s infrastructure addresses these constraints with features tailored to high-frequency, low-value transactions. The network introduces “sessions,” a mechanism that allows continuous payments after a one-time authorization. Funds are allocated upfront, and transactions stream as services are consumed.
This approach reduces the need for separate on-chain transactions for each interaction. It also enables aggregation, where multiple microtransactions settle as a single transaction.
Expanding ecosystem and integrations
At launch, Tempo’s payments directory includes more than 100 integrated services. These span developer tools, compute platforms, and data providers such as Alchemy, Dune Analytics, Merit Systems, and Parallel Web Systems.
The broader ecosystem reflects growing competition in the agentic payments space. Coinbase has introduced its x402 framework, while Google has developed its own payment scheme supporting both cards and stablecoins.
Visa has also contributed to the MPP standard by enabling card-based payments within the protocol.
Lightspark has extended support for Bitcoin payments through the Lightning Network, while Stripe has expanded compatibility across cards, wallets, and other payment methods.
Strategic push into stablecoin infrastructure
Tempo’s launch comes amid increasing investment in stablecoin infrastructure by major financial firms. Mastercard recently announced a $1.8 billion acquisition of BVNK to integrate digital dollars into its network. Stripe has also acquired stablecoin startup Bridge and crypto wallet provider Privy.
Tempo raised $500 million in 2025 at a $5 billion valuation, backed by investors including Thrive Capital. The company has positioned its blockchain as a settlement layer for both emerging AI-driven commerce and traditional financial flows.
Beyond agentic payments, Tempo supports use cases such as global payouts, remittances, embedded finance, and tokenized deposits. The infrastructure includes features designed to mirror compliance and reconciliation processes found in traditional banking systems.
Developers begin building on Tempo
With the mainnet now live, developers can access Tempo through public RPC endpoints and begin integrating payment functionality into applications. The company encourages builders to create agent-based systems that transact autonomously, as well as traditional payment platforms that require high-throughput settlement.
The launch signals a broader shift in how digital payments may evolve. As AI systems take on more operational roles across the internet, the ability to transact programmatically could become a core requirement rather than an experimental feature.
Gunel Ismayilova
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