How to Set Spending Limits for AI Agents
An agent spending limit is a configurable cap on how much crypto an AI agent can spend within a scope — per transaction, per time period, per recipient, or per session. The most fundamental spending control.
WHY IT MATTERS
Spending limits are the first defense against runaway costs. Without them, a single bug or hallucination could drain a wallet. Even well-functioning agents should have limits as safety nets.
Effective limits work at multiple levels: per-transaction (no single large mistake), rolling period (no slow drain), session (scoped to task). Defense in depth.
Setting levels is a balance — too restrictive hamstrings the agent, too generous doesn't protect. Start conservative, adjust based on observed patterns.
HOW POLICYLAYER USES THIS
PolicyLayer lets you define per-agent, per-session, per-transaction limits with rolling windows — in tokens or USD equivalent, varying by recipient, token, or time of day.