INSIGHT · GLOBAL
BNPL infrastructure faces mismatch as AI agents replace human purchasers
BNPL platforms were designed to verify human intent at purchase time. As AI agents begin autonomous buying and financing transactions on behalf of consumers, BNPL networks must shift from 'Know Your Customer' (KYC) to 'Know Your Agent' (KYA)—verifying agent authority, budget, and risk profile instead.
WHY IT MATTERS
BNPL lenders unprepared for agentic commerce will face fraud spikes, misclassified risk, and regulatory ambiguity around agent liability. Early winners will build agent-aware credit decisioning; stragglers face portfolio deterioration.
Source: Tearsheet · 2026-07-02