DBS and Stripe are partnering to support the growth of cross-border payments and agentic commerce in Asia by combining DBS’s banking network with Stripe’s financial technology. The partnership will also explore AI-powered financial services designed to make transactions more efficient, secure and customer-controlled.
On 27 August 2026, DBS and Stripe announced a strategic partnership to support the growth of agentic commerce and cross-border payments in Asia. The partnership brings together DBS’s banking services and strong network across Asia with Stripe’s global financial technology and programmable financial services. The aim is to make it easier for businesses to collect, move and manage money across different markets. The two companies will also explore the development of agentic artificial intelligence, or AI, services that could help DBS customers make transactions more efficiently and securely.
The partnership comes at a time when both cross-border trade and AI-led commerce are developing quickly. McKinsey estimates that AI agents could manage between US$3 trillion and US$5 trillion of global consumer commerce by 2030. This means that businesses may increasingly deal with AI agents that search for products, compare prices, make decisions and complete purchases on behalf of people.
Asia’s outbound cross-border payments are expected to reach US$24 trillion by 2033, compared with US$13.5 trillion in 2025. This suggests that the ability to move money across markets quickly and safely will become increasingly important for businesses seeking international growth.
At the same time, the way customers buy products is beginning to change. AI agents can already help people search for products, compare options and complete parts of the buying process. McKinsey describes this as a shift from people directly managing every stage of a purchase towards AI agents acting on their behalf.
This creates a new problem for banks and payment providers. They must make sure that an AI agent is allowed to act for a customer, that the payment is genuine and that the customer remains in control.
Why DBS and Stripe are a strong match
DBS brings strong banking knowledge and a wide presence across Asia. Its 2025 annual report shows that the bank has already invested heavily in digital banking, AI and cross-border payments. DBS reported more than 2,000 AI models across more than 430 use cases and highlighted partnerships that allow customers to make payments through networks such as Alipay+ and Weixin Pay.
Stripe brings a different but complementary strength. Its financial platform allows businesses to accept payments, manage money and build financial services into their own products. In its 2025 annual letter, Stripe reported that businesses using its platform generated US$1.9 trillion in total payment volume during 2025. Stripe also reported that more than five million businesses use its financial services directly or through platforms.
Stripe has also been investing directly in the infrastructure needed for agentic commerce. Its 2025 annual letter describes tools such as shared payment tokens, an Agentic Commerce Suite and the Agentic Commerce Protocol, which was developed with OpenAI. These tools are designed to allow AI agents to make payments without exposing sensitive payment details.
How the partnership could work
The first area of opportunity is cross-border payments. Stripe merchants could use DBS’s banking and money movement services to collect payments and manage cash across their businesses. This could help companies operating in several countries manage their money more easily instead of dealing with separate systems for each market.
The second area is the wider use of embedded financial services. DBS plans to explore how Stripe’s global platform could help the bank expand its own cross-border network. This could give institutional customers better ways to reach customers and business partners in other countries.
The third and most forward-looking area is agentic AI. The two companies will explore ways to help DBS customers use AI agents for transactions. In practice, an agent could eventually help a customer identify a suitable product or service, check the price, make the payment and complete other related tasks within limits set by the customer.
For example, an Asian business could ask an AI agent to find a supplier in another country, compare prices, check delivery terms and arrange payment. The agent could then use approved payment instructions and financial services provided through the partnership. The business would still need clear controls over what the agent can do.
The importance of trust and security
Trust is one of the biggest issues facing agentic commerce. A normal online purchase usually involves a person checking the details and confirming the payment. An AI agent can carry out several actions without the person being involved at every stage.
Visa’s 2025 research found that nearly nine in ten surveyed consumers wanted transparency about how AI agents make decisions, while about half said they could stop using an agent if they lost that control. The research covered consumers in the United States, Australia and New Zealand, so it should not be treated as a direct measure of Asian consumers. However, it shows why trust, control and clear payment rules are important as agentic commerce develops.
Research and trials in Asia Pacific show similar concerns. Visa reported in August 2026 that more than 50 issuers and payment partners across the region were testing agent-led transactions. It also reported that 74 per cent of surveyed Asia Pacific consumers were already using AI tools to discover, track or learn about products. Visa noted that identity, consent, control and risk management remain important when an AI agent acts for a customer.
The need for strong controls is also supported by research from the Bank for International Settlements. A November 2025 study found that AI agents could carry out several cash management tasks in simulated payment systems, including maintaining liquidity buffers and prioritising urgent payments. However, the study also stressed the need for human oversight, regulation and safeguards.
Strategic significance
For DBS, the partnership offers a way to extend its role beyond traditional banking and support customers as their businesses become more digital and international. For Stripe, working with DBS provides access to a major Asian banking network and deeper knowledge of local markets.
The partnership also shows that the future of agentic commerce will require cooperation between banks, payment providers, technology companies and merchants. AI agents may make decisions and initiate transactions, but the financial system still needs to provide the trust, payment infrastructure and controls behind those actions.
The DBS and Stripe partnership is a strategic response to two connected trends: the rapid growth of cross-border business in Asia and the rise of AI-led commerce. By combining DBS’s banking network with Stripe’s global financial technology, the companies aim to make it easier for businesses to collect, move and manage money across markets.
The more significant opportunity may be the development of agentic AI for financial transactions. If AI agents become a normal way for people and businesses to buy products and services, payment systems will need to support transactions that are fast, secure and clearly authorised.
The partnership is still at an early stage, so its final products and customer benefits have yet to be demonstrated. Its value will depend on how well DBS and Stripe turn their combined strengths into practical services while maintaining customer control and security. However, the timing is strong. Recent research shows that agentic commerce is moving from early experiments towards real-world use, plus Asia is already one of the world’s most active regions for digital payments and cross-border business.
