🚀 What is Coinbase x402?
x402 is a new open payment protocol built by Coinbase that revives the long-forgotten HTTP 402 “Payment Required” status and turns it into a modern, internet-native payment layer.
Using stablecoins (such as USDC) directly over HTTP, x402 allows services: APIs, websites, or digital content platforms to charge per request. At the same time, clients (including AI agents and automated systems) can pay programmatically, without accounts, subscriptions, or human interaction.
In simple terms:
request → pay → get response, all at the protocol level.
How It Works (Simplified)
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A client requests a protected resource (API, data, article, service).
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The server responds with HTTP 402 Payment Required, including payment instructions.
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The client (app or AI agent) generates a payment transaction using its wallet.
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The client resends the request with payment details included in HTTP headers.
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The server verifies the payment and immediately returns the requested resource.
The entire flow is:
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Stateless
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HTTP-native
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Blockchain-settled
No sessions, no redirects, no traditional payment gateways.
Why This Is Especially Powerful for AI, Newsletters, and Info Sites
x402 fits perfectly where subscriptions are too heavy, and ads are inefficient:
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AI agents buying articles, summaries, or datasets on demand
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News and research platforms charging per article or per API call
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Informational sites monetizing high-value content without forcing sign-ups
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APIs offering true usage-based pricing with zero friction
This opens the door to:
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Micropayments that actually work
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Content monetization for both humans and machines
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A future where AI pays for the internet, request by request
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