Ricardian-TEA: a hybrid framework for assigning legally enforceable identities to autonomous AI agents

Abstract

Abstract As AI agents evolve into autonomous economic actors, verifiable and legally binding identity frameworks become critical. This paper presents Ricardian-TEA , a novel architecture combining Triple-Entry Accounting (TEA), Ricardian Contracts, and Distributed Ledger Technology to assign “Legal-Technical Identities” to AI agents. We provide rigorous mathematical foundations: a Ricardian-TEA Integrity Theorem proving that constraint enforcement, non-disputability, and identity binding hold with overwhelming probability under standard cryptographic assumptions, and a Cyber-Chama Convergence Proposition characterising reputation-based trust dynamics. The framework ensures GDPR compliance via Zero-Knowledge Architecture and Crypto-Shredding. Proof-of-concept implementations on Ethereum Sepolia and Bitcoin SV testnets demonstrate chain-agnostic applicability, achieving at worst 1.4 s latency per transaction while maintaining 100% auditability of AI transactions.