Summary of Key Features
- •BEATS on Base executed the world's first autonomous crypto-for-AI-credits transaction on June 3rd, 2025.
- •The technology stack comprises Base Sub Accounts for human user experience, the x402 protocol for AI autonomy, and the $BEATS token as the AI credit system.
- •Live products include BUDDIES by Beats, which offers white-label AI agents.
- •Upcoming products are Base Creator Studio, an AI generation platform, and the BEATS Creator Agent, an autonomous XMTP agent.
- •The $BEATS token serves as the native AI credit across the entire ecosystem.
The Problem with Traditional AI Payments
Traditional methods for paying for AI services are hampered by several critical limitations. These include subscription lock-in, where users are obligated to pay monthly regardless of their actual usage. Additionally, API key friction presents a complex authentication process and restrictive rate limits. A significant issue is the lack of agent autonomy, meaning AI cannot transact independently. Furthermore, high minimum payment thresholds, often associated with credit card minimums, exclude the possibility of micropayments. The cumulative effect of these issues is that AI agents remain dependent on constant human intervention for every single transaction, thereby preventing true autonomy.
The Solution: Cryptocurrency as AI Credits
BEATS has developed a pioneering three-layer technology stack that effectively transforms cryptocurrency into programmable AI credits. This innovative approach addresses the shortcomings of existing AI payment systems.
Layer 1: Base Sub Accounts (Human Experience)
Base Sub Accounts are designed to provide a frictionless payment experience for human users. Key features include automatic creation upon wallet connection, eliminating the need for any setup. Users can set spend permissions, allowing them to approve transactions once and then transact seamlessly. There is no requirement for separate funding, as users can spend directly from their main Base Account. Gas costs are sponsored, powered by Coinbase Paymaster. The result is that users can approve spending limits once, for example, $100 for 30 days, and then every AI generation can occur with zero additional clicks.
Layer 2: x402 Protocol (AI Agent Autonomy)
The x402 protocol is an open payment protocol developed by Coinbase that enables autonomous AI transactions. It is HTTP-native, utilizing the standard HTTP 402 "Payment Required" status for its operations. This protocol eliminates the need for subscriptions or API keys, offering pay-per-use functionality for AI services. It facilitates true agent autonomy, allowing AI agents to transact without requiring human approval. The settlement of transactions is instant, with on-chain confirmation typically occurring within two seconds. The outcome is that AI agents can discover services, negotiate prices, and execute payments autonomously, mirroring human behavior.
Layer 3: $BEATS Token (Native AI Credit System)
The $BEATS token functions as the native currency for AI credits throughout the ecosystem. The token address on the Base network is 0x315b8c9a1123c10228d469551033440441b41f0b. Its primary use case is for payment for AI image generation, video creation, and agent services. Users receive a 20% discount when they pay with $BEATS compared to using USDC. All transactions are recorded on-chain and are verifiable, ensuring transparency.
Historic First: June 3rd, 2025
On June 3rd, 2025, BEATS achieved a significant milestone by executing the world's first autonomous crypto-as-AI-credits transaction on the Base blockchain. This transaction can be viewed on BaseScan via the following link: View on BaseScan.
This groundbreaking transaction demonstrated several key capabilities:
- An AI agent autonomously requesting a service.
- A crypto payment executed programmatically without human signature.
- Instant service delivery upon payment confirmation.
- Complete transparency through on-chain settlement.
Live activity for $BEATS AI credits can be tracked on BaseScan at: View token transactions.
The BEATS Ecosystem
🤖 BUDDIES by Beats (LIVE NOW)
BUDDIES by Beats offers white-label AI agents that businesses can deploy with integrated crypto payment capabilities. Key features include customizable AI personalities that maintain brand consistency, native $BEATS payment integration, advanced tools for image and video generation and editing, and community moderation with Web3 wallet operations. This product is currently live and actively processing transactions.
🎨 Base Creator Studio (COMING SOON)
Base Creator Studio is a professional AI generation platform for images and videos, which will be monetized through crypto credits. Planned features include AI image generation with integrations for image-gen-1 and nano-banana, AI video generation supporting models like Sora2, Higgsfield, Kling, and Veo3, and advanced editing tools such as Reframe, Upscale, Remove, Expand, and 3D GIF creation. Users will be able to pay on a per-generation basis using $BEATS or USDC, with a planned 20% discount for $BEATS token holders. The target launch for this platform is Q2 2025.
🐨 BEATS Creator Agent (COMING SOON)
The BEATS Creator Agent is an autonomous XMTP chat agent designed to generate AI content through natural language interactions. Planned features include integration with the XMTP protocol for a chat-based interface, support for multiple Large Language Models (LLMs) such as GPT-4, Claude, Grok, and Gemini, and autonomous payment processing via the x402 protocol. It is slated to be listed in the Base App's "Chat with AI Agents" section. Users will be able to pay using USDC, ETH, or the $BEATS token. The target launch for this agent is Q1 2025.
Technical Architecture
1) Human Layer
- •Base sub-accounts: These allow user wallets to be segmented for specific spending scopes.
- •Spend permissions (approve once): This enables one-time approvals for recurring agent actions.
- •Gas sponsorship (Paymaster): Users can transact without needing to hold ETH for gas fees.
2) Agent Layer
- •x402 payment protocol: This provides standardized, machine-readable requests and receipts exchanged between agents and services.
- •Autonomous transactions: Agents are empowered to execute approved on-chain actions on behalf of users.
- •Service discovery (x402scan.com): This serves as a registry and index for compatible x402 services.
3) Settlement Layer
- •Base blockchain (L2): This acts as a fast and low-cost execution environment.
- •$BEATS token (native credits): This is the primary unit for usage, rewards, and fees.
- •USDC/ETH (alternative payments): These offer optional settlement and on-ramp capabilities.
4) Application Layer
- •BUDDIES (live): These are AI-powered community guardians with full Web3 capabilities, enabling them to moderate, create, transact, and build alongside crypto projects while maintaining their unique brand identity.
- •Base Creator Studio (COMING SOON): This will offer a Freepik-style visual interface for AI image and video generation, functioning as a professional creative workspace with pay-per-generation pricing.
- •BEATS Creator Agent (COMING SOON): This autonomous XMTP chat agent will facilitate natural language AI content creation and will be listed in the Base App's "Chat with AI Agents" section.
$BEATS Tokenomics
Token Name: BEATS
Symbol: $BEATS
Network: Base (Ethereum L2)
Contract: 0x315b8c9a1123c10228d469551033440441b41f0b
Use Case: Payments for AI credits and ecosystem utility.
Discount: Users receive a 20% discount on AI generations when paying with $BEATS.
Significance for Web3
1. True AI Agent Autonomy
For the first time, AI agents can operate economically independently from humans. They can discover services, negotiate prices, and execute payments autonomously through the x402 protocol.
2. Crypto Product-Market Fit
AI credits represent a clear and compelling use case for cryptocurrency, solving real-world problems such as enabling micropayments, providing instant settlement, and facilitating programmable transactions that traditional payment rails cannot support.
3. Infrastructure for the AI Economy
BEATS is actively building the foundational payment layer for an emerging economy where AI agents are recognized as first-class economic participants, rather than merely tools.
4. Open Standards
By leveraging Base Sub Accounts, which are backed by Coinbase, and the x402 open protocol, BEATS ensures interoperability and prevents vendor lock-in within the AI payment ecosystem.
Roadmap
Q1 2025 ✅ COMPLETE
- •First autonomous crypto-as-AI-credits transaction executed on June 3rd.
- •BUDDIES by Beats white-label platform launched.
- •$BEATS token integrated for AI credit payments.
- •Base Sub Account integration completed.
Q1 2025 🚧 IN PROGRESS
- •Base Creator Studio launch (image/video generation).
- •BEATS Creator Agent development (XMTP chat agent).
- •Multi-LLM support integration (GPT, Claude, Grok, Gemini).
- •x402 protocol integration for enhanced agent autonomy.
- •Listing on Base App "Chat with AI Agents" section.
Q3 2025 📋 PLANNED
- •Agent marketplace integration (x402scan.com listing).
- •Introduction of a subscription model option (credit-based).
- •API access made available for third-party developers.
The Vision: Onchain AI Economy
BEATS is dedicated to establishing the foundational infrastructure for an onchain AI economy. This future economy will be characterized by several key advancements:
- •🤖 AI agents will transact autonomously without human gatekeepers.
- •💰 Micropayments will enable true pay-per-use models, with transactions potentially costing under $0.01.
- •🌐 Open standards, such as x402 and Base, will prevent centralized control.
- •⚡ Instant settlement will replace slow and expensive traditional payment rails.
- •🔗 Onchain transparency will foster trust and verifiability among participants.
The future of AI payments is firmly onchain, and BEATS is actively building this future on the Base network.
Get Involved
Try BEATS Products
- •BUDDIES by Beats: Website
- •$BEATS Token: 0x315b8c9a1123c10228d469551033440441b41f0b (Base)
Track Development
- •Transaction Activity: BaseScan
- •x402 Ecosystem: x402scan.com (coming soon)
About BEATS
BEATS is at the forefront of pioneering crypto as AI credits on the Base blockchain. The company is building AI Agents and the essential payment infrastructure for the emerging onchain AI economy. BEATS the Koala, originating on December 3, 2006, in Brisbane, Australia, has evolved to become the ecosystem's mascot and the namesake for the $BEATS token. This token serves as a native AI credit system, facilitating frictionless AI transactions for both human users and autonomous agents.
Disclaimer: This article is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Investing in cryptocurrencies carries inherent risks. It is crucial to conduct your own thorough research before participating in any token ecosystem.