x402 — A payment protocol built on HTTP's long-unused 402 status code, letting a server charge per request so software agents can pay without an account.
MCP — The Model Context Protocol — an open standard that lets any AI assistant plug into any tool or data source without custom integration code.
AI agent — An AI system that doesn't just answer once but works toward a goal in a loop — taking actions, reading the results, and deciding what to do next.
Why it matters
If you sell AI agentAn AI system that doesn't just answer once but works toward a goal in a loop — taking actions, reading the results, and deciding what to do next.Full definition →-accessible tools over x402A payment protocol built on HTTP's long-unused 402 status code, letting a server charge per request so software agents can pay without an account.Full definition →, starting work on a verified but unsettled payment exposes you to double spending, and MCPThe Model Context Protocol — an open standard that lets any AI assistant plug into any tool or data source without custom integration code.Full definition →'s 401 handshake conflicts with x402's 402, pushing teams onto a second hostname.
videoAgent Spending Without Controls — Rodrigo Coelho & Pranav Maheshwari, Edge & Node
videoBeyond the Lethal Trifecta: Agentic Commerce on the Open Internet — David Levine, Kiduna Club
videoThe End of the Static Screen: Architecting Intent-Driven UX — Gus Iwanaga, commercetools
videoYour Agent Just Authorized What?! — Jay Mok & Ben Coumes, Paypal
