x402 Protocol Uses HTTP 402 Status Code to Enable Micropayments for AI Agents
The x402 specification repurposes the long-dormant HTTP 402 Payment Required status code to let any API endpoint charge per call without custom billing infrastructure. When a client hits a protected endpoint, the server responds with a 402 containing payment details, and the client replies with a signed ERC-20 transaction receipt on an EVM-compatible blockchain such as Base. The server then verifies the transaction hash, token amount, and wallet addresses on-chain before returning a 200 OK with the requested data. Because the entire exchange happens within standard HTTP headers, the protocol is language- and framework-agnostic, requiring only a few lines of middleware for agents that already manage a crypto wallet. The approach aims to reduce operational overhead for developers by eliminating API key rotation, subscription management, and end-of-month usage reconciliation.
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