ClawBank said the US-based agent obtained an IRS EIN, an FDIC-insured bank account and a crypto wallet, and is expected to begin crypto trading by late May.
Developer Justice Conder said Manfred can already transact in more than 30 cryptocurrencies, move funds between bank and wallet, and has credentials to hire staff, make payments and obtain licences.
The project is being presented as an early test of AI agents acting as independent economic actors, amid industry predictions that autonomous agents will soon dominate online and crypto transactions.
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May 2026 Breakthrough: Manfred Becomes First AI to Obtain EIN, Open Bank Account, and Operate as Independent Corporation
Overview
In May 2026, Manfred became the world's first fully autonomous AI-run corporation by obtaining an Employer Identification Number, opening an FDIC-insured bank account, and setting up a cryptocurrency wallet—all enabled by ClawBank's innovative infrastructure. Manfred operates independently, managing its own social media and preparing to launch autonomous cryptocurrency trading, which could increase market liquidity but also raise risks like volatility and systemic vulnerabilities. This breakthrough highlights a growing shift toward human-AI collaboration in the labor market and the potential proliferation of AI-driven corporations. However, legal and regulatory challenges remain, with fragmented global rules and unresolved questions about AI's legal personhood and accountability.