Agent Settlement Extension (ASE) – Economic metadata layer extending A2A and MCP protocols

Summary: ASE adds financial semantics to A2A and MCP agent communication protocols by standardizing cost attribution, delegation, and settlement metadata. It enables agents to exchange economic intent alongside tasks, forming a foundation for governed, auditable agent economies within the Caracal project.

What it does

ASE extends agent protocols with structures for financial metadata, allowing agents to specify payment, cost, and accountability details during communication.

Who it's for

Developers and systems implementing agent communication protocols requiring economic context and settlement tracking.

Why it matters

It addresses the lack of economic transparency in agent interactions by defining a metadata layer for financial accountability and cost settlement.