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The x402 payments protocol launched its V2 update on Dec. 11, introducing multi-chain routing and standardized payment formats that enable AI agents and automated services to transact across Base, Solana, card networks and ACH systems.
The Coinbase-backed protocol has processed over 100 million transactions since launching six months ago, according to the company.
The update also reflects pressure from developers and enterprise users to reduce fragmentation in payment infrastructures used by AI agents and high-frequency automation systems.
The x402 payments protocol now offers a modular architecture that allows new assets, chains, and payment types to be added without altering the protocol’s foundational components.
The separation between clients, servers, and facilitators ensures that adopters can scale or innovate independently while maintaining interoperability.
This modularity is central to the long-term strategy behind the x402 payments protocol, particularly as AI-driven applications increasingly require low-friction access to multi-chain liquidity pools, stablecoins, and traditional payment services.
The V2 implementation introduces wallet-based sessions, enabling ongoing subscription-like access to paid resources without restarting on-chain flows. The company said this feature reduces overhead for recurring API calls, model inference operations, and automated agent workflows—sectors that rely on consistent, uninterrupted payment authorization.
Unlike conventional API key systems, these sessions tie access rights directly to wallet ownership. This design makes the x402 payments protocol better suited for decentralized authentication models and reduces friction in environments where AI agents must repeatedly authorize microtransactions or pay-per-use services.
Stablecoin payments, often executed through Layer 2 networks like Base, remain core to settlement flows under the x402 payments protocol, helping maintain speed and minimize transaction fees for automated processes.
Another key enhancement is the Discovery extension, which allows services to publish metadata that facilitators can crawl and index. This gives AI agents the ability to automatically locate providers, review pricing structures, and initiate payments with minimal human involvement.
The new plug-in software development kits were rewritten based on feedback from early adopters who deployed the x402 payments protocol in live production environments. These SDKs allow developers to add new chains, assets, and extensions as modular components.
The x402 Foundation—formed in September 2025 with members including Cloudflare, Google, and Visa—continues to support development of the protocol as an open standard. Their involvement underscores broader institutional momentum around scaling machine-to-machine payments through technologies like the x402 payments protocol.
As AI systems become more autonomous and rely on direct economic interactions, the V2 upgrade signals a move toward frictionless, programmable payments spanning both decentralized and traditional finance ecosystems.
The x402 payments protocol now stands at the center of this convergence, supporting the infrastructure needed for next-generation automated commerce.
