AI Briefingx402, Agent Payment Standard
Key point
x402 integrates per-request payments for AI agents' APIs and MCP tools into the HTTP request flow.
Details
x402 is an open payment standard designed to allow AI agents to directly pay for API and MCP tool usage by leveraging the HTTP 402 Payment Required status code.
When accessing a protected resource without payment, the server returns a 402 response with a PAYMENT-REQUIRED header conveying the payment terms. The client selects a supported term and resends the request with a signed payment payload in the PAYMENT-SIGNATURE header.
- Per-request payments are possible without account sign-up, API key issuance, or session management.
- A facilitator can mediate payment verification and on-chain settlement.
- Current implementations focus on on-chain payments, supporting stablecoins and tokens, with fiat currency payments presented as a goal.
- The MCP integration package
@x402/mcpv2.20.0 is also provided.
x402 was initiated by Coinbase and has transitioned to a structure managed by the x402 Foundation under the Linux Foundation, supporting networks such as Base and Solana. While the standard itself has no protocol fees, network gas fees and costs based on facilitator policies may apply.
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