Stripe Embraces AI Agent Payments With x402 and USDC on Base

Stripe has begun testing direct crypto payments between AI agents using the x402 protocol, ushering in a new era of automated, onchain machine-to-machine commerce.

Key Takeaways

• Stripe is previewing x402-powered machine payments using USDC on Coinbase’s Base blockchain.
• AI agents can now be charged directly for API usage, Model Context Protocol calls, and HTTP requests via Stripe’s PaymentIntents API.
• CoinGecko and SUBBD Token are joining the trend, with integrations and platforms that support the AI agent economy.
• Stripe’s move validates the readiness of crypto and Layer-2 networks like Base for real-world enterprise applications.

What Happened?

Stripe has integrated Coinbase’s open x402 payment protocol to enable AI agents to transact directly onchain using USDC on the Base network. The new feature, currently in preview mode, allows developers to charge autonomous agents with minimal code through the existing Stripe PaymentIntents API. The system is designed to support the fast-growing machine-to-machine (M2M) economy where software agents operate independently to pay for services like APIs, data access, or compute power.

Stripe Moves Toward Agent Economy With x402 on Base

Stripe’s latest integration marks a bold step toward the emerging agent economy, where autonomous software programs handle transactions without human involvement. By adopting the x402 protocol, Stripe reactivates the once-unused HTTP 402 “Payment Required” status code to facilitate native payments directly within web requests.

According to Jeff Weinstein, Stripe’s product manager, developers can now create a PaymentIntent that generates a unique deposit address. This address is shared with an AI agent, which then sends a payment or token to complete the transaction. Status tracking is available through API, Stripe Dashboard, or webhooks. Sales tax, refunds, and reporting remain fully supported through Stripe’s existing infrastructure.

Stripe has also released developer tools to support adoption, including:

• “Purl”, an open-source command line interface.
• Code samples in Python and Node.js.
• A simplified integration for early developers to begin testing the agent payments system.

The initial launch supports USDC stablecoin transactions on Base, with plans to expand to additional blockchains, currencies, and protocols.

CoinGecko and SUBBD Join the AI-Powered Payment Movement

CoinGecko has also adopted the x402 protocol, turning its API into a pay-per-use system for autonomous agents. Without requiring logins or API keys, agents can now access real-time price and onchain data for just $0.01 USDC per request.

Supported use cases include:

• Price lookups
• Multi-chain data analysis
• Autonomous arbitrage bots
• Onchain risk monitoring

Meanwhile, the rise of AI-powered commerce is fueling interest in projects like SUBBD Token ($SUBBD), a Web3 platform designed for the creator economy. SUBBD merges AI capabilities with decentralized payments, offering tools like AI influencers, voice cloning, and automated fan interactions. These agents can monetize content, interact with fans, and manage revenue via the $SUBBD token.

The project’s presale has already raised $1.47 million, and features a 20 percent APY staking program for early adopters. SUBBD represents a real-world application layer riding atop the payment rails Stripe is building.

Stripe Signals Readiness for Crypto at Scale

This x402 initiative signals Stripe’s increasing confidence in crypto infrastructure, particularly Layer-2 networks like Base. By choosing Base, the company emphasizes the importance of low fees, scalability, and 24/7 global availability, all of which are critical for autonomous software agents making microtransactions.

Stripe’s broader strategy includes efforts to define industry standards. Last year, the company introduced the Agentic Commerce Protocol (ACP) alongside OpenAI to create seamless commerce flows between AI and traditional businesses.

Other tech giants are moving in parallel. Google’s AP2 protocol focuses on user intent and authorization, letting AI agents spend within user-defined parameters. Stripe’s x402 and Google’s AP2 reflect different but complementary visions of a future where AI agents become active economic participants.

CoinLaw’s Takeaway

This is a big one. In my experience, announcements like this usually fly under the radar until they’re fully rolled out, but Stripe just made a major bet on the machine-to-machine economy. What stands out is that they didn’t just theorize about AI agent payments but they built it, tested it, and shipped it. And they chose a public chain like Base to do it. That’s not just a technical choice, it’s a signal that crypto is ready for enterprise.

I found the CoinGecko move particularly exciting. Charging $0.01 per request with no account or key? That’s the kind of permissionless utility crypto was made for. Meanwhile, the SUBBD project shows how these tools can create entirely new revenue models in creator-driven economies. Stripe is laying down the rails, and startups are already racing to build on them.

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