Stripe Launches x402 System to Let AI Agents Pay with USDC

Highlights:

• Stripe launched x402 on Base so AI agents can pay with USDC stablecoin easily.
• Businesses can now charge AI agents for API calls and other requests automatically. 

• CoinGecko also launches x402 API, which allows AI agents access data for $0.01 USDC.

Stripe launched a new payment system called x402 on Base. It lets AI agents pay using Circle’s USDC stablecoin. This is a step toward a future where AI, businesses, and humans work in the same economy. Jeff Weinstein, Stripe’s product manager, said AI agents are a new type of user to build for. 

Stripe Enables AI Agents to Manage Payments Autonomously

Stripe is testing machine payments, so developers can charge agents with little coding. They also released an open-source tool called “Purl” to test payments in the terminal. It works with Python and Node.

Weinstein emphasized that businesses will now be able to charge AI agents for API usage, MCP calls, or HTTP requests through Stripe’s PaymentIntents API. This system will also support agent-specific pricing plans, in addition to traditional subscriptions and invoices.

Stripe’s new product shows its focus on the “agent economy.” In this system, AI programs handle their own money and buy data, computing power, and digital services without humans. Weinstein said that while billions of humans use the system today, trillions of AI agents will soon use it, with some already running on devices like Mac minis.

The rollout started on February 11 with a small group of developers. Feedback is collected by email, and a wider release will come in the next few weeks. Early testers suggested features like session-key spending and merchant allowlists could make payments easier for AI agents. Jeff Weinstein, Stripe Product Manager, said, “We’re launching with support for x402 using USDC stablecoins on Base, with more protocols, payment methods, currencies, and chains to come. Let us know which to prioritize.”

To charge AI agents, businesses first create a PaymentIntent. Stripe then gives a unique deposit address for each transaction and instructions for the agent to send funds. Payments can be tracked through the API, Dashboard, or Webhook before settling into Stripe balances. 

Ahmed Gharib, Stripe’s head of agentic commerce, said the company is setting standards for AI transactions. In September, Stripe launched the Agentic Commerce Protocol, the first standard for AI agents to trade programmatically with businesses. It was built with OpenAI to work smoothly with existing commerce systems.

CoinGecko Launches x402 API for Autonomous Access

CoinGecko has introduced new API endpoints powered by x402, the company announced Tuesday. These endpoints let AI agents access price and onchain data for $0.01 USDC per request without needing an account or API key. The API supports price queries and several onchain routes. CoinGecko covers over 18,000 cryptocurrencies across more than 250 networks. Developers can use this to build tools like arbitrage trackers or onchain risk monitors.

Last year, Google also launched the Agent Payments Protocol (AP2) to handle authorization, not payments. It ensures AI agents follow user rules, like spending $100 daily only on data APIs or Netflix. AP2 moves AI closer to acting as real economic participants for humans, businesses, or themselves.

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