Proof, an identity authorization network, has joined the FIDO Alliance as a Sponsor member, aiming to contribute to emerging authentication standards for AI agents acting on behalf of users. The move comes as the FIDO Alliance, known for standards like passkeys and WebAuthn, prioritizes agent-based interactions for 2026, a field where Proof has already secured over $640 billion in transactions for more than 9,000 organizations.
As AI agents transition from theoretical concepts to real-world applications capable of making purchases, signing agreements, and executing transactions, a new class of risk emerges. Current systems can verify an agent’s credentials, but often lack a reliable method to confirm that a real, verified person issued that authorization. This gap can lead to identity fraud and dispute challenges, costing billions annually.
The urgency of this issue is reflected across the industry, with OpenAI joining FIDO’s Board of Directors and Google contributing its Agent Payments Protocol (AP2). Mastercard, in collaboration with Google, also contributed its Verifiable Intent framework, designed to work with AP2, to FIDO. A consistent method to prove the human behind these agent actions is yet to be widely established.
Proof introduces its Know Your Agent (KYA) capability, which applies principles used in high-value human transactions to AI-driven interactions. Its platform verifies a person’s identity to NIST IAL2, the highest standard for remote identity proofing in the United States, and cryptographically binds that verified identity to every action an AI agent takes. Operating as a Certificate Authority, Proof issues PKI certificates directly to verified individuals, creating an unbroken chain of trust from enrollment to agent transaction execution.
Pat Kinsel, founder and CEO of Proof, stated, “As agents begin to transact on behalf of users, the greatest challenge will be proving who is actually behind each transaction, authorizing every move.” He added that Proof is focused on this issue and looks forward to collaborating with the FIDO community to embed accountability into these standards from the outset.
Andrew Shikiar, Executive Director and CEO of the FIDO Alliance, noted that the rise of AI agents is creating new requirements for authentication, identity, and user intent. He emphasized that addressing these challenges requires ecosystem-wide collaboration and that Proof brings a critical perspective to evolving open standards for trusted digital interactions.
By joining the FIDO Alliance, Proof will contribute its expertise in identity verification and authorization to help define standards for AI-driven transactions. Establishing a verifiable link to a real human identity will be crucial for the scalability and trustworthiness of evolving authentication frameworks that support AI agents. Proof is an identity infrastructure company that verifies identity to the highest legal standard, issues personal cryptographic certificates, and operates the Identity Authorization Network.
