Coinbase-backed x402 released its V2 upgrade, expanding the protocol’s role as a unified payments layer for AI agents and web services. The update standardizes network and asset identifiers, enabling a single format to settle HTTP 402 payments across Base, Solana, stablecoin rails, ACH, and card networks. The protocol has processed more than 100 million API and agent-based transactions since launching six months ago.
V2 introduces wallet-based sessions that allow subscription-like access and repeated API calls without restarting onchain flows. The design reduces operational overhead for high-frequency workloads such as model inference and automated agent operations, shifting authorization from API keys to wallet ownership. The upgrade also separates clients, servers, and facilitators so developers can add new chains and assets as modular components.
A new Discovery extension enables x402-integrated services to publish metadata that facilitators can index, giving AI agents the ability to locate services, understand pricing, and initiate payments autonomously. The protocol continues to rely on HTTP 402 as a settlement trigger, typically using stablecoins on Layer 2 networks. The x402 Foundation, formed in September, includes Cloudflare, Google, and Visa as members supporting the standard’s development.
