Tempo has launched its Mainnet for stablecoin-based payments and introduced an open standard called the Machine Payments Protocol (MPP), intended to automate payments between software agents and online services.
Tempo describes itself as a payment-focused blockchain infrastructure, emphasising instant settlement, predictable fees and high transaction throughput. Developers can connect to the network through public RPC endpoints.
Tempo co-authored MPP with Stripe. The protocol defines a standard way for machines to request, authorise and settle payments, and is designed to work across multiple payment methods, including stablecoins and cards.
Agent payments
Tempo is promoting MPP for "agentic" workflows, where software agents perform tasks and pay for resources as they go. Examples include paying for access to datasets, purchasing compute services and covering charges for testing infrastructure. A single workflow can involve many small payments across multiple vendors.
Tempo argues this pattern exposes weaknesses in traditional payment systems and some blockchain networks. Card and bank rails often assume a human is present for approvals and dispute processes. Many blockchains also struggle with fluctuating fees and structures poorly suited to high-frequency, low-value payments.
MPP introduces what Tempo calls sessions, a mechanism for continuous payments with pre-authorised limits. Users set aside funds upfront, then payments run within defined constraints as an agent consumes services. Tempo says it can aggregate many small interactions into a single settlement transaction.
Directory launch
Tempo has also launched a payments directory for services that accept MPP-based payments. It is presented as a catalogue that software agents can query, listing compatible endpoints for automated payments.
At launch, Tempo said the directory included integrations with more than 100 services across model providers, developer tools, compute platforms and data services. It named Alchemy, Dune Analytics, Merit Systems and Parallel Web Systems among early integrations.
Service providers can integrate billing flows through MPP and become discoverable in the directory. Tempo listed use cases such as pay-per-call APIs, monetised MCP servers, gated content and multi-service workflows.
Partners and rails
Tempo is positioning MPP as rail-agnostic. It said Visa has extended the protocol to support card-based payments on Visa's network. According to Tempo, Stripe has extended it for cards, wallets and other payment methods available through its platform. Tempo also said Lightspark has extended MPP for Bitcoin payments over the Lightning network.
The approach reflects a broader effort in the payments industry to connect automation software with billing systems while keeping settlement flexible across multiple rails. For businesses, the commercial upside of agent-driven workflows depends on predictable costs, reliable authorisation and clear settlement outcomes.
Payment workflows
Beyond software agents, Tempo is targeting established payment use cases, including global payouts, cross-border remittances, embedded finance and tokenised deposits. These areas are a focus for stablecoin issuers and infrastructure providers because they rely on high volumes, fast settlement and cross-border reach.
Tempo has worked with design partners since the launch of its public testnet in December. It described global payouts as a workload where platforms distribute funds to workers, sellers and creators in large batches, and said it has built "dedicated payment lanes" for large payout runs.
For cross-border transfers, Tempo said partners are testing remittance corridors that settle in seconds while providing auditability and predictable costs. In embedded finance, it cited smart accounts and protocol-level memos as building blocks for integrating financial workflows into applications. For tokenised deposits, it referenced reconciliation primitives and compliance registries as mechanisms that mirror traditional controls while moving settlement closer to real-time.
Tempo is working with partners, including Anthropic, DoorDash, Mastercard, Nubank, OpenAI, Ramp, Revolut, Shopify, Standard Chartered and Visa, as it brings these use cases onto the Mainnet.
Tempo said it plans to introduce additional features focused on enterprise payment workloads in the coming months.