x402 and the Autonomous Economy

x402 and the Autonomous Economy

This week at Off The Chain Thursday, we’re diving into x402 — the open payment standard enabling AI Agents to autonomously pay for APIs, data, and digital services using the HTTP 402 “Payment Required” status code. 🌐💡 x402 bridges the gap between web protocols and on-chain settlement, giving AI the ability to transact directly with digital infrastructure — without intermediaries or manual input.

We’ll explore how this standard could transform the digital economy by turning autonomous agents into real economic participants. From microtransactions for data access to automated service payments, x402 lays the groundwork for a new class of self-sustaining applications. Join us as we unpack how this evolution in payment rails could become one of the most important catalysts for mass crypto adoption — driving real-world utility, machine-to-machine commerce, and frictionless integration across industries.