Original Author: Abstract Developer Jarrod Watts

Compiled by｜Odaily Planet Daily (@OdailyChina); Translator｜Azuma (@azumaeth)_

Editor's Note: The x402 protocol has become the latest focus in the market. With the rising popularity of the concept, several x402 concept coins represented by PING have seen significant increases. What exactly is x402? What scenarios can it be applied to? What are its development prospects? Are the so-called x402 concept coins merely riding the hype or do they have real significance? Abstract developer Jarrod Watts shares his views on these questions in his latest article.

Below is the original content by Jarrod Watts, compiled by Odaily Planet Daily.

In the past two days, the total market capitalization of the so-called x402 concept coins has surpassed $100 million, achieving explosive growth almost overnight — even though this protocol was actually released months ago.

I spent an entire day setting up my own x402 server just to figure out whether this is yet another "quick money-making" narrative in the AI bubble or a technology that can truly change the way AI Agents interact with the internet.

Here are my conclusions.

Basic Concepts: API and Status Codes

Before we begin, I need to briefly introduce some basic concepts (especially for those without development experience), mainly API and status codes.

If you’re starting to feel bored, please don’t give up just yet; it’s actually very simple.

You just need to know: the client (like an application or AI Agent) requests information from the server (backend) through the API, and the server returns a status code and some data.

Key Point One: Client requests data ➡️ API returns status code and data;

Each status code has a different meaning, and 402 is one of them. Here are a few examples:

Status Code 200 = OK (Request successful);
Status Code 404 = Not Found (Resource not found);
Status Code 402 = Payment Required (Payment needed);

The problem is that the 402 "Payment Required" status code has almost never been truly used — as a developer, I had never even heard of it before.

Another point is that currently, when using most APIs, developers must first register on the API's developer platform, bind credit card information, and pay based on usage (tied to a unique API key).

With this understanding, we can formally address the following questions: What is x402? Why did it emerge? How does it operate?

x402: What is it? Why did it emerge? How does it operate?

The emergence of x402 stems from a group of tech enthusiasts at Coinbase thinking: "We now have AI Agents and cryptocurrencies, why not put the 402 status code to real use?"

Thus, x402 expanded the original 402 status code, no longer just returning a useless prompt, but directly enabling payment functionality in API requests (usually using stablecoins).

This allows the API to require the client to pay when accessing the interface, and the client can complete the payment with cryptocurrency in the same HTTP request.

Key Point Two: Clients can now pay API fees directly with stablecoins;

You might ask, how is cryptocurrency transmitted in HTTP requests? Does every API now have to write code to handle on-chain transactions?

Actually, both methods are possible. The API can handle it itself or delegate on-chain payments to a so-called "Facilitator" (payment intermediary).

A Facilitator is a service provider that verifies whether the client's payment authorization is legitimate and then helps complete the payment on-chain.

Their existence is meant to make it easier for API developers to integrate x402 payments.

Key Point Three: Facilitators can handle on-chain payments for API developers;

How x402 Empowers AI Agents

Traditional payment methods are not friendly to AI Agents. The existing payment systems require a lot of manual setup and maintenance, which AI cannot use independently.

Now, to allow AI Agents to access paid APIs, one must manually register on various platforms, bind credit cards, and maintain API keys — the entire process relies on human intervention.

x402 "kills the API key," allowing payments to be completed directly through HTTP requests, enabling AI Agents to access paid APIs without human intervention.

Key Point Four: x402 eliminates reliance on manual and third-party payment platforms;

In this process, it also cuts out the high fees charged by credit cards and third-party payment intermediaries.

So what about the x402 token?

In my view, the new x402 token may fit into this new narrative in several ways.

APIs require clients to use a specific token for payment (rather than stablecoins) — this is interesting;
Facilitators require APIs to pay service fees with their own tokens — this model exists, but the appeal is limited;
Purely speculative tokens — just like those from the last AI hype cycle.

In the previous round of AI hype, we saw many AI tokens' market capitalizations soar to billions of dollars, but these tokens had almost no meaningful existence, merely having some connection to a chatty X robot.

The feeling around x402 concept coins is similar.

But the key issue is not "why this token needs to exist," but rather to acknowledge that most people in the cryptocurrency industry are here to make money, and the so-called x402 token just happens to create a perfect speculative market.

I suspect that in the coming weeks, we will see a new wave of AI tokens emerging and being heavily promoted. They may still have no practical significance, but the most important thing is to understand: "Are you here to be wise? Or to make money?"

Conclusion

x402 is a truly innovative technology related to cryptocurrency, providing a very powerful use case for stablecoins, enabling AI Agents to achieve native interaction with the internet.

I believe we will soon see the convergence of x402 payments, ERC-8004 trustless Agents, and verifiable AIs, leveraging the open nature of blockchain to establish a reputation and trust system for AI — another topic worth exploring in depth.

Today, the crypto industry has finally welcomed more practical consumer applications, the mainstreaming of stablecoins, and institutional adoption. And x402 is undoubtedly another step in the right direction.

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