Back in the early 90s, the internet was built with a secret payment button that no one ever pressed. It was called HTTP 402 = “Payment Required.” For decades, it sat unused. Then, just a while ago, @Coinbase and @Cloudflare decided to bring it back to life. It’s an open-source payment protocol that activates that old “402” button. Instead of signing up, logins, or API keys, websites, and AI agents can now request and receive payments directly over the web,just like sending data. It's like adding a “Pay Now” feature to the internet. When a user or AI sends a request (for example, to access an API or download a dataset), the server can now respond with a 402 message : “Sure, but this service costs 1 USDC.” Once the 1 $USDC has been paid, the service will be instantly unlocked. ➫ 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝗯𝘆 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 1 > You make a request. 2 > The server replies with a 402 payment request. 3 > Your wallet or AI agent pays automatically using stablecoins like USDC. 4 > The server verifies the transaction and grants access. No signups or logins. No middlemen. Just native payments running through HTTP. It’s already gaining traction fast. Coinbase, Cloudflare, and Google are backing it. Chains like Base, Solana, and Sei are integrating it. AI agents on platforms like Peaq and Daydreams are using it to buy compute, data, or storage in real time. ➫ 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗣𝗶𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 x402 turns the web into a payable network, where value moves as easily as information. This is a massive opportunity for the “agent economy,” because now these AI systems can transact, collaborate, and build businesses on their own. x402 might be the first step toward the autonomous web, a web where machines can now pay for services.