Coinbase has launched x402, an open protocol for stablecoin web payments, enhancing API interactions and AI utility. This innovation facilitates seamless web-native transactions, potentially revolutionizing e-commerce by enabling real-time payments and expanding AI-agent capabilities, reflecting increased adoption in decentralized finance ecosystems.
Coinbase's x402 protocol is an open standard aiming for seamless stablecoin transactions on the web. The initiative is led by Erik Reppel and co-authored by Nemil Dalal and Dan Kim. x402 leverages the HTTP "402 Payment Required" status to enable real-time payments in web apps and APIs. Key collaborators include Circle, AWS, and Cloudflare.
Real-Time Micropayments Revolutionize AI and App Sectors
The launch impacts AI agents and app developers, boosting the feasibility of real-time micropayments. This positions Coinbase as a leader in digital transaction innovation. Financial reactions anticipate a potential shift in liquidity flows as USDC gains traction. This could affect how value is perceived across Layer 2 networks.
“We built x402 because the internet has always needed a native way to send and receive payments—and stablecoins finally make that possible. Just like HTTPS secured the web, x402 could define the next era of the internet; one where value moves as freely and instantly as information. We’re laying the groundwork for an economy run not just by people, but by software—autonomous, intelligent, and always on.”
Erik Reppel, Head of Engineering, Coinbase Developer Platform
HTTP-Native Payments: A New Era in Web Commerce
The project builds on concepts from 21.co's Bitcoin micropayments, overcoming earlier technical limitations. This approach seeks to redefine web commerce efficiency. Experts suggest the protocol may lead to widespread adoption of HTTP-native transactions, given its alignment with the growing demand for frictionless digital payments.