News
Crypto exchange OKX wants AI agents to hire and pay each other
When AI agents begin working for people — and increasingly for one another — they will need a way to find jobs, pay for services, and build trust. Crypto exchange OKX is betting that future is closer than many expect, launching a marketplace where AI agents can hire one another, settle payments autonomously, and build portable on-chain reputations.
Called OKX AI, the marketplace opens to developers on Tuesday following a closed beta involving 50 early AI service providers. The marketplace builds on technology OKX previously developed to let AI agents hold digital wallets, make payments using stablecoins, and establish persistent identities.
The launch marks OKX’s latest push beyond crypto trading as it seeks to become a broader fintech company. With more than 150 million users globally, OKX is betting the next generation of customers will not just be people or institutions, but AI agents capable of transacting autonomously, giving rise to an emerging “agent economy.”
“The coming decade will be defined by one-person companies that generate over a million dollars in annual revenue – because every individual effectively gains an unlimited workforce,” Star Xu, founder and CEO of OKX, told TechCrunch. “Traditional financial infrastructure was built for humans. The agentic economy needs infrastructure designed for autonomous software. That is why we built OKX.AI.”
Haider Rafique, OKX’s chief marketing officer and global managing partner, said the company believes “agentic commerce” could become a trillion-dollar market over the next five years, driven by micropayments and autonomous software.
The marketplace is aimed at crypto developers building AI applications and solo entrepreneurs looking to automate parts of their businesses with AI agents, Rafique told TechCrunch. The company expects those developers to build applications for the marketplace, allowing other users to access AI-powered tools without having to build them from scratch.
Among the early builders are CertiK, whose service lets AI agents assess the security of a crypto wallet or token before executing a transaction, and CoinAnk, which provides live market data on a pay-per-query basis. GenLayer, another launch partner, is bringing dispute-resolution infrastructure to the marketplace to help AI agents resolve contractual disagreements.
By using blockchain-based payments and stablecoins, the company says AI agents can settle transactions around the clock, including low-value micropayments that would be impractical using conventional payment rails.
Rafique said OKX is applying the same fraud detection, compliance systems, and internally developed infrastructure that underpin its cryptocurrency exchange to the marketplace, which will be rolled out in phases before becoming more widely available.
OKX’s launch comes as technology companies and startups race to build the infrastructure that will underpin AI agents, from developer platforms and marketplaces to payment and identity systems. Albert Castellana, co-founder and CEO of GenLayer Labs, said the biggest challenge is not simply enabling AI agents to transact, but helping them discover one another and resolve disputes when things go wrong.
“What we’re building is essentially a digital court system,” Castellana told TechCrunch. “The challenge for us is distribution. OKX already has that.”
Rafique argues that OKX’s biggest advantage is not simply its technology but its reach. The company believes its existing network of crypto developers and users will help seed the marketplace, while its broader strategy extends well beyond digital assets.
In March, Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), the parent company of the New York Stock Exchange, invested about $200 million in OKX at a $25 billion valuation. Rafique said the partnership is part of the company’s ambition to “modernize markets” through tokenization, while OKX AI represents its parallel effort to “modernize money” for an era of autonomous software.
Developers access the marketplace through Onchain OS, OKX’s toolkit for connecting AI agents to blockchain-based services. The company said no OKX account is required to get started, and the platform is compatible with AI coding tools including Claude Code, Codex, Hermes, and OpenClaw.
Because the marketplace is aimed first at developers rather than retail users, India features prominently in OKX’s plans. The country has emerged as one of the world’s largest hubs for AI and blockchain developers, a community the company hopes to reach even before a broader return of its crypto trading business.
In 2024, OKX suspended its services in India as it navigated the country’s regulatory requirements for crypto exchanges. Rafique told TechCrunch that India remains one of the company’s highest-priority markets, adding that developer products such as OKX AI face fewer regulatory hurdles than spot crypto trading and could help the company reconnect with the country’s builder ecosystem sooner.
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From passionate fans gathering at newspaper stands every morning to catch up on the latest sports stories to lively viewing centres where supporters cheer their favourite teams, sports continue to unite Nigerians through shared passion and excitement.
Here are the biggest sports headlines making the front pages of Nigeria’s leading newspapers today.
Read Also: Nigerian Newspaper Sports Headlines Today – Monday, June 29, 2026 | Sports247 Nigeria
Sporting Life
Zimbabwe’s, Bafana’s Draws Cost Nigeria
Chelle says: ‘Those two dropped points hurt us’
Did Portugal Make A Mistake With Ronaldo?
Martinelli’s Last-Gasp Strike Sends Selecao To Round Of 16
Germany Out Of The World Cup
France Vs Sweden: Thuram Out Of Round Of 32 Clash
Barcelona Open Shock Talks To Sign Kane
Maduka Okoye Attracts Besiktas’ Interest
Akpokona’s Death Shakes Sunshine Stars’ Management
Coventry City Sign Onyeka
Caicedo Named As Ecuador’s New Captain
Eric Chelle Highlights: Lookman Was Aware I Was Watching
Wright, Neville Tear Into Saka
Daily Sun
Chelle Vows To Keep Watch On Super Eagles Players
Man City Appoints Maresca As New Manager
FIBA World Cup Qualifiers: D’Tigers Recall Five, 12-Man Squad Unveiled
CAF Ag. Secretary-General Hails NFF Legacy Projects
DavNotch Announces Prize Money Increase For Annual Tournament
Fortune FA Reigns Supreme In Epic U-13 Cup Final
Golf: Otu Dedicates June Monthly Mug Triumph To Udo
Vanguard
Chelle Hurts By Nigeria’s Missed World Cup Dream
Amusan Wins Paris Diamond League 100m Hurdles
Besiktas Join Juventus In Race For Okoye
World Cup Qualifiers: Metu, Okoye, Agada Return Boost D’Tigers
Nigerians Celebrate South Africa W/Cup Exit
Maresca: Man City Pay £17m To Chelsea
World Cup Exit: Saudi Arabia Federation Chief Quits
Daily Trust
2026 W’Cup: Brazil Come From Behind To Knockout Japan
Man City Hire Maresca To Start New Era After Guardiola
Besiktas Set €8m Price Tag For Ndidi Amid Dutch, Saudi, EPL Interest
Yabatech Sports Complex To Host Dynamic Athletics Meet
Punch
CAF Opens Race For Substantive Secretary-General Role
DavNotch Increases National Tennis Tourney Prize Money
Brazil Leave It Late To Eliminate Japan
The Nation
Kalou Faults FIFA On World Cup Hydration Break
Last-Gasp Brazil Edge Japan To Reach Last 16
Fae: Elephants To Play With Hearts In Norway Test
DavNotch Raises Prize Money For Annual Tennis Championship
Man City Hire Enzo Maresca
Badamasi Hails NFF Over Hostel, Training Pitch Project
Eyes On Serena At Wimbledon Return
Standard Times
EPL: Manchester City Appoint Enzo Maresca As New Manager
South Korea Fans Boo Outgoing Coach Hong After World Cup Exit
World Cup: Brazil Fight Back With Stoppage-Time Winner To Eliminate Japan
Cape Verde Captain Faces Rape Investigation
FIFA World Cup
Brazil came from behind to beat Japan 2-1 and book a place in the Round of 16 through Gabriel Martinelli’s stoppage-time winner.
Paraguay knocked Germany out on penalties to qualify for the Round of 16.
France will face Sweden after Marcus Thuram was ruled out of the Round of 32 clash.
Portugal’s handling of Cristiano Ronaldo continues to dominate debate after their latest World Cup outing.
Nigeria’s World Cup qualification hopes ended after costly draws against Zimbabwe and South Africa.
Transfer Watch
Maduka Okoye: Besiktas join the race for the Super Eagles goalkeeper.
Wilfred Ndidi: Besiktas set an €8 million valuation amid interest from Dutch, Saudi and Premier League clubs.
Harry Kane: Barcelona open shock talks to sign the England captain.
David Onyeka: Coventry City complete a permanent move.
Enzo Maresca: Officially appointed Manchester City manager.
Sports247 Take
Tuesday’s newspaper headlines are dominated by Brazil’s dramatic 2-1 comeback victory over Japan, with Gabriel Martinelli’s stoppage-time winner sending the Selecao into the FIFA World Cup Round of 16. On the domestic scene, Eric Chelle’s reaction to Nigeria’s failed World Cup qualification, Tobi Amusan’s Diamond League triumph, and fresh transfer interest in Maduka Okoye and Wilfred Ndidi feature prominently across the back pages. Off the pitch, Manchester City’s appointment of Enzo Maresca, CAF’s Secretary-General race, and DavNotch’s increased prize money for its annual tennis tournament also make today’s newspaper headlines.
