Coinbase developers have implemented a new protocol x402, which opens up possibilities for autonomous payments on the Ethereum network involving artificial intelligence. Experts believe that this technology could fundamentally change the economic model in the fields of AI and cryptocurrencies.
This is reported by Business • Media
Innovations for AI Agents on the Ethereum Blockchain
Kevin Leffew and Lincoln Murr, developers at Coinbase, believe that autonomous agents based on artificial intelligence are poised to become the primary users of the Ethereum network in the near future. They emphasize that the combination of the forgotten web standard HTTP 402 with the improvement proposal Ethereum EIP-3009 allows AI agents to make payments in stablecoins without human involvement.
With the implementation of protocol x402, Coinbase has effectively transformed API services into crypto wallets accessible to AI. This solution eliminates the need for manual key management and transaction confirmations, significantly simplifying the payment process.
New Opportunities for Autonomous Transactions and Applications
According to the developers, x402 establishes a new foundation for the economic activities of artificial intelligence, removing the need for human oversight. This approach greatly enhances the efficiency of AI-based systems.
Leffew and Murr compare the operation of autonomous agents to vending machines: upon receiving an HTTP 402 request, the program instantly signs the transaction and pays for the service. This could be utilized, for example, in driverless taxis, AI-based content creation tools, or programs that autonomously pay for data storage.
Experts believe that Ethereum has better prerequisites for such a model compared to other blockchains due to atomic payments, programmable policies, and wallet modularity. This not only simplifies billing but also minimizes the risks of transaction disputes compared to traditional methods.
“The magic of x402 lies not only in the fact that agents can pay, but also in their ability to autonomously integrate various services into a single economic cycle,” emphasized Leffew and Murr.
According to the developers, autonomous agents are already being tested using HTTP 402. For instance, in the Hyperbolic Labs project, this approach has been integrated into a large language model, while in Prodia Labs, AI uses x402 for creating images and videos.
It was previously reported that Standard Chartered predicts the price of Ethereum will rise to $7500 by the end of the year.