x402 Protocol Gains Support from Major Firms for AI Payments
CoinDesk reports that the x402 Foundation, backed by Visa, Mastercard, and Ripple, has launched to standardize payments between software agents using stablecoins. The x402 protocol enables direct small stablecoin transfers without prior relationships or accounts, processing approximately $24 million in 75 million transactions last month.
The x402 Foundation, established under the Linux Foundation, aims to standardize payments between software agents using stablecoins. Supported by major companies like Visa, Mastercard, and Ripple, the x402 protocol utilizes the HTTP 402 response code, allowing clients to make direct payments to servers without needing accounts or prior agreements.
In the past month, x402 reported processing around 75 million transactions that totaled approximately $24 million, averaging about 32 cents per payment. This mechanism facilitates machine-to-machine commerce, which is significant as traditional payment networks typically cannot process micro-transactions profitably. The protocol's design appeals particularly to the AI industry, where autonomous agents cannot engage in traditional banking but can perform transactions.
Major industry players, including Google and Cloudflare, have integrated x402 into their payment systems, which enhances the protocol's reach and applicability. Despite this progress, the volume moved by x402 remains small relative to conventional payment infrastructures, reflecting the nascent stage of this payment standard.
Moving forward, stakeholders will closely monitor the adoption and performance of the x402 protocol as it fills a long-recognized gap in internet-native payment processing. Given the integration of x402 in the protocols of leading tech companies, its impact on machine-driven transactions and broader payment adoption could grow substantially.
Summary based on original reporting by Shaurya Malwa at CoinDesk, originally published Jul 15, 2026. SolanaWire does not republish source content.
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