Claude Duet payments use Link to buy on a business owner’s behalf, with approval before each purchase. The October 21 launch is a research preview, initially offered by waitlist to US Pro and Max subscribers.
Stripe’s announcement separates two money workflows: buying through Link, and operating a business’s Stripe account through MCP. The distinction matters when deciding what to connect.
Purchases still need your approval
Stripe says the Link integration completes an approved purchase with a virtual card. It describes uses such as ordering supplies or buying advertising. Link’s agent-wallet page says its agent payments are currently available in the US, with broader availability planned.
That is permission to carry out a particular purchase, rather than an instruction to give an assistant unrestricted spending access. Before approving, compare the merchant, item and final amount with what you intended to buy.
Business-account actions are a separate connection
Through Stripe MCP, Stripe says Duet users can create invoices and payment links, manage products and prices, examine revenue and issue refunds. These are actions inside a connected business account, distinct from paying another merchant with Link.
An invoice reminder and a refund deserve different review. A useful starting task is to have the assistant prepare the proposed action and its amount for inspection. Our guide to Agentic Commerce Protocol versus MCP explains why a tool connection and a checkout protocol are different parts of the process.
Who can use it now?
Anthropic’s launch description puts the preview on iOS, Android and claude.ai, with access beginning through a waitlist for US Pro and Max subscribers. It shares the subscriber’s Claude usage allowance; background checks count toward that allowance.
Anthropic says Duet waits for approval before payments and other consequential actions. It also lists securities trading and moving money between accounts as unavailable even with approval. These are the product’s stated boundaries, rather than a claim that every financial task can be delegated.
For a small business, the immediate decision is which account and activity to authorize. Keep purchase receipts and refund records in the same reconciliation process as transactions made directly. The approval screen does not replace checking an order or reconciling the account.
