Stripe Adds x402 Integration to Support USDC Agent Payments on Base
has officially introduced support for the x402 payment protocol on the Base blockchain, enabling developers to bill autonomous AI agents directly in USD Coin (USDC). The feature is currently rolling out in preview, marking a key step in Stripe’s expansion into programmable, agent-driven commerce.
The move allows —software programs that operate without constant human oversight—to make on-chain payments for digital services such as API calls, data access, computation, or web requests. Instead of relying on traditional billing systems, agents can now send USDC on Base as payment, and Stripe’s infrastructure tracks and settles these transactions.
How the x402 Integration Works
Stripe’s implementation uses the x402 protocol, an open standard that repurposes the HTTP “402 Payment Required” status code to embed payment requests directly into web workflows. When an AI agent needs to access a paid resource, it receives a payment request through the standard Stripe API.
Once the agent sends USDC on Base to the specified address, Stripe verifies the payment and grants access to the service. This process can be monitored through Stripe’s dashboard, webhook systems, or API.
Because Base is an ETH with quick finality and low transaction costs, these micropayments can settle rapidly and cheaply—ideal for frequent, low-value interactions that agents typically require.
Stripe has also released developer tools including an open-source command-line interface called purl and example integrations in languages like Python and Node.js, assisting teams experiment with agent payments and build answers that leverage the new system.
Strategic Implications
This development reflects the company’s broader strategy to support the emerging agent economy, a future in which autonomous software entities manage their own financial interactions.
Stripe product lead Jeff Weinstein that legacy payment systems are primarily designed for humans, making machine-to-machine payments hard at scale. He added:
“Autonomous agents are an entirely new category of users to build for, and, increasingly, to trade to. Today, we’re launching (a preview) of machine payments on @stripe—a way for developers to directly charge agents, with a few lines of code.”
The x402 rollout on Base is currently in preview, with the company planning to expand support to other blockchains, currencies, and payment standards over time.
The launch comes as other platforms adopt x402 standards. For example, market data providers are beginning to offer pay-per-use services where autonomous agents pay in USDC for each request, further validating the utility of programmable on-chain billing.
