Setting up Axiom is quick. By the end of this guide you'll have a linked card and a connected agent ready to make purchases.
What you'll need
- An Axiom account (sign up at axiom.com)
- An AI agent that supports MCP, like Claude Desktop or OpenClaw
- A debit or credit card to link
Step 1: Sign up and verify
Create your Axiom account using your email. You'll get a verification link. Click it to activate your account.
Step 2: Link your card
Navigate to Cards in the dashboard and link a debit or credit card. Axiom charges your linked card at the moment of each purchase. There's no upfront deposit and no balance to manage.
Your spending rules control the maximum your agents can spend. If a purchase would exceed a rule, it's blocked before a card is even issued.
Step 3: Set your first spending rule
Before connecting an agent, set a basic spending rule. Go to Rules and configure:
- Daily limit: Start with something small, like $25/day
- Per-transaction limit: Try $15 to keep individual purchases in check
You can always adjust these later. The point is to have guardrails in place from the start.
Step 4: Connect your agent
Go to Integrations and grab your MCP connection credentials. Follow our integration guide for your specific agent (we have dedicated guides for Claude Desktop and OpenClaw).
Step 5: Make a test purchase
Ask your agent to buy something small. A $1 digital gift card works great. Watch the transaction appear in your Activity feed with the full audit trail.
That's it. Your agent just made a real purchase through Axiom.