Coinbase has launched x402, a bold attempt to revive the long-unused HTTP 402 ‘Payment Required’ status code to power autonomous payments between AI agents across the internet — with no human intervention required.
With x402, servers can now request payments and clients — whether human or AI — can respond by transferring stablecoins like USDC, creating a frictionless, programmable payment layer for agent-to-agent commerce.
Coinbase argues that legacy payment systems like credit cards and bank transfers weren’t designed for the always-on, automated future now emerging. The x402 protocol addresses this gap by enabling per-call payments, removing the need for subscriptions, manual billing, or human-in-the-loop configuration.
“We’re laying the groundwork for an economy run not just by people, but by software — autonomous, intelligent, and always on,” said Erik Reppel, head of engineering at Coinbase Developer Platform.
Coinbase envisions a future where AI agents can autonomously interact with APIs, purchase data, and access services on demand using digital money — setting the stage for a truly agentic digital economy.
Major players including Visa, Stripe, Mastercard, and PayPal are also exploring similar autonomous payment models to capitalize on the rapidly expanding AI landscape.