HTTP 402 / x402

An open payment standard, created by Coinbase, that revives the web's 402 Payment Required code so agents and apps can pay per request, often in stablecoins.

By Brandon MinaCEO, BrandPilot AIUpdated November 2026

Short answer

HTTP 402, or x402, is an open payment standard created by Coinbase that revives the web's long-unused 402 Payment Required status code. It lets AI agents and applications pay for content or services per request, often using stablecoins. It is designed for automated, machine-to-machine payments without accounts or subscriptions.