x402: Making HTTP 402 the Standard for AI Agent Payments
· 4 min read
For decades, HTTP 402 "Payment Required" stood as an unused placeholder, a relic in the HTTP specification. Designed to enable digital cash schemes, it never found widespread adoption. Until now. The emergence of AI agents and the demand for granular, real-time machine-to-machine payments have finally given HTTP 402 purpose through the x402 protocol. This isn't just about a status code; it's about a fundamental shift in how services bill and how agents pay, directly addressing the unique economic needs of the AI era.
