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x402

x402 is an open payment protocol developed by Coinbase that enables instant, HTTP-based transactions for both human users and autonomous agents. It allows payments without requiring traditional user accounts, session management, or complex authentication systems.

What x402 enables​

x402 enables the following payment and monetization patterns:

  • Per-request API monetization: API services can charge for each individual request without requiring subscription models or upfront commitments
  • Autonomous agent payments: AI agents can independently pay for API access and services as they operate, without human intervention
  • Content monetization: Digital content creators can implement paywalls and access controls that charge users automatically
  • Microservice monetization: Small services and tools can be monetized through microtransactions, making it economically viable to charge for granular functionality
  • API aggregation services: Proxy and gateway services can aggregate multiple APIs and charge for access, creating new business models for API intermediaries

Payment scheme support in ampersend​

ampersend currently supports the exact payment scheme.

The x402 Deferred Scheme was contributed by Edge & Node to enable trust-minimized micropayments, but deferred settlement is not yet merged into x402 and is not yet supported by ampersend.