# AP2 Protocol Explained: How Agent Payments Get Authorized

DevFeed: [AP2 Protocol Explained: How Agent Payments Get Authorized](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/ap2-protocol-explained-how-agent-payments-get-authorized-9636.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://dodopayments.com/blogs/ap2-protocol-agent-payments/>)

Author: Ayush Agarwal

Published: 2026-09-13T00:00:00Z

Content type: article

Language: en

Sources: [Dodo Payments Blog](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/dodo-payments-blog.md>)

Topics: [Authorization](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/authorization.md>), [AI Agent](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/ai-agent.md>), [Artificial Intelligence](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/ai.md>), [JSON Web Tokens](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/jwt.md>), [Google](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/google.md>)

Tags: [agent](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/agent.md>), [agentic](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/agentic.md>), [ai](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/ai.md>), [authentication](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/authentication.md>), [cryptographic](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/cryptographic.md>), [google](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/google.md>), [payments](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/payments.md>), [tokens](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/tokens.md>)

## AI overview

A practical explanation of AP2, an authorization and evidence protocol for AI agent payment transactions. It describes cryptographic proof, verifiable digital credentials, SD-JWTs, and separate checkout and payment mandates.

## Source excerpt

A practical guide to AP2, the Agent Payments Protocol: checkout and payment mandates, open versus closed authorization, verifiable digital credentials, and what it means for merchants.