Here’s what happened in crypto today

Today in crypto, Google unveiled an open-source protocol for AI-powered payments with stablecoin support, a Deutsche Börse Group subsidiary launched AnchorNote for institutions to trade across venues without moving assets, and industry executives are preparing to meet with lawmakers in Washington, D.C., to push the BITCOIN Act.

Google unveils open-source protocol for AI payments with stablecoin support

Google has unveiled an open-source protocol that allows AI applications to send and receive payments, including transactions using stablecoins — highlighting the growing role of dollar-pegged cryptocurrencies in the emerging AI-driven web.

The initiative is being launched in partnership with Salesforce, American Express and more than 60 other companies, Fortune reported Tuesday. Stablecoin functionality was developed in collaboration with crypto exchange Coinbase, and the Ethereum Foundation was also consulted on the project.

James Tromans, head of Web3 at Google Cloud, confirmed the rollout, telling Fortune that the protocol was designed to support both “existing payment rail capabilities as well as forthcoming capabilities such as stablecoins.”

Coinbase engineer Erik Reppel said the exchange worked with Google to make their payment systems interoperable. “We’re all working to figure out how to make AI transmit value to each other,” he told Fortune.

The payment system builds on Google’s Agent2Agent Protocol, introduced in April, which provides a framework for AI agents to exchange information and interact more efficiently. It was developed with support from more than 50 technology partners, including PayPal, Salesforce and SAP, and consulting firms such as Deloitte, McKinsey and PwC.

The Tuesday announcement comes amid a growing push to connect AI agents — autonomous software programs capable of making decisions without human input — with decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols. Such integration could streamline trading, improve user interaction, and expand real-world payment use cases.

Deutsche Börse subsidiary launches off-exchange settlement for institutions

Crypto Finance, a subsidiary of Deutsche Börse Group, launched a new off-exchange settlement solution to improve capital efficiency and trading flexibility for institutional crypto investors.

The new product, Crypto Finance AnchorNote, allows institutions to trade on different platforms without moving their assets out of custody. It also helps them settle trades off-exchange and earn yields within a compliant, risk-controlled setup, according to a Tuesday announcement.

“With Crypto Finance AnchorNote, we are closing a critical gap between custody and capital efficiency,” said Philipp Dettwiler, head of custody and settlement at Crypto Finance. The launch is initially focused on the Swiss market, with a broader European rollout expected in the near term.

The system integrates BridgePort as a middleware layer to coordinate messaging across exchanges and custodians. “Together with BridgePort, we are delivering an integrated solution that allows institutional clients to operate securely, flexibly, and in real time,” Dettwiler added.

AnchorNote allows institutions to pledge assets without moving them out of secure custody. Source: Crypto Finance

Crypto Finance said that AnchorNote makes it easy to move collateral between platforms quickly. Institutions can access the service either through a user-friendly interface or a direct API connection.

US lawmakers tap Saylor, Lee to advance Bitcoin reserve bill

US lawmakers are set to meet with 18 crypto industry executives, including Strategy chairman Michael Saylor, on Tuesday to discuss how Congress can move forward with President Donald Trump’s Strategic Bitcoin Reserve.

Attendees will also include Fundstrat CEO Tom Lee, who is also the chairman of BitMine, as well as MARA CEO Fred Thiel, according to crypto advocacy group The Digital Chambers, which shared the full list with Cointelegraph on Monday.

The industry executives are looking to build momentum behind the BITCOIN Act, a measure introduced by US Senator Cynthia Lummis in March that calls on the government to acquire one million Bitcoin (BTC) over five years.

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