Coinbase-incubated x402 payments protocol built for AIs rolls out V2

The Coinbase-incubated, open-source x402 payments protocol, designed for AI agents, has rolled out V2, six months after its initial launch. V2 transforms the original simple single-call payment system into a full-fledged, unified payment layer for the internet, building on learnings from processing over 100 million payments. The major upgrade unifies the payment interface by standardizing network and asset identification, making x402 "multi-chain by default" to support assets on chains like Base or Solana without custom logic. Crucially, V2 also supports "legacy payment rails" such as ACH and card networks. Furthermore, the update introduces dynamic 'payTo' routing for complex flows like usage-based billing and subscriptions, alongside customizable paywalls and lifecycle hooks for developers. This flexibility aims to make x402 a more adaptable layer for payments driven by humans, applications, and agents.

(Source：The Block)