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Glossary

x402

x402 is a 2025-2026 payment protocol that repurposes the long-unused HTTP 402 status code for programmatic micropayments on Base, letting AI agents pay per API call instead of relying on prepaid credits.

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Definition

x402 is a 2025-2026 payment protocol that repurposes the long-unused HTTP 402 status code for programmatic micropayments on Base, letting AI agents pay per API call instead of relying on prepaid credits.

In Depth

The x402 protocol emerged from the Coinbase and Base ecosystem and surpassed 119 million transactions as of early 2026. The idea is simple: a server that needs payment returns HTTP 402 with a challenge; a client (usually an agent with a USDC wallet) pays on-chain and retries. No API key, no prepaid credits, no per-tenant key juggling. Scavio supports x402 alongside traditional API-key auth for agents that prefer on-demand billing.

Example Usage

Real-World Example

A multi-tenant AI agency routed client agents through x402 so each tenant's usage settled on its own wallet instead of the agency's shared API key.

Platforms

x402 is relevant across the following platforms, all accessible through Scavio's unified API:

  • Google
  • Amazon
  • YouTube
  • Walmart
  • Reddit

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Frequently Asked Questions

x402 is a 2025-2026 payment protocol that repurposes the long-unused HTTP 402 status code for programmatic micropayments on Base, letting AI agents pay per API call instead of relying on prepaid credits.

A multi-tenant AI agency routed client agents through x402 so each tenant's usage settled on its own wallet instead of the agency's shared API key.

x402 is relevant to Google, Amazon, YouTube, Walmart, Reddit. Scavio provides a unified API to access data from all of these platforms.

The x402 protocol emerged from the Coinbase and Base ecosystem and surpassed 119 million transactions as of early 2026. The idea is simple: a server that needs payment returns HTTP 402 with a challenge; a client (usually an agent with a USDC wallet) pays on-chain and retries. No API key, no prepaid credits, no per-tenant key juggling. Scavio supports x402 alongside traditional API-key auth for agents that prefer on-demand billing.

x402

Start using Scavio to work with x402 across Google, Amazon, YouTube, Walmart, and Reddit.

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