Introduction: The Web2 and Web3 Payment Gap

The current digital landscape is being torn apart by the inherent contradictions between Web2 and Web3. On one hand, Web2 offers convenient payments through centralized platforms like Apple Pay and WeChat Pay, but these are locked within 'walled gardens' controlled by corporations and geographic boundaries. On the other hand, Web3 promises a global, open, and permissionless financial future, but suffers from price volatility and complex user experiences that make it a 'tech island' inaccessible to mainstream users. This gap between 'convenience' and 'openness' has led to Web3 being labeled as 'difficult to implement' and 'speculative'. Against this backdrop, the x402 protocol emerges as an innovative solution, not by building a new system, but by reviving the HTTP 402 (Payment Required) standard that has been dormant for 26 years. Can this 'reactivation' bridge the gap between Web2 and Web3? Does it herald the birth of a native and open web payment layer, fundamentally reshaping how value flows across the internet?

What is x402 and Why is it Emerging Now?

x402 is an open-source protocol initiated by Coinbase in May 2025. It aims to activate the HTTP 402 status code and transform it into a native and permissionless payment mechanism on the internet, connecting Web2 applications with Web3 value networks. Notably, the protocol only gained widespread attention five months after its launch. In fact, the 402 status code is not a 'new invention' in the crypto world, but a reserved code in the HTTP protocol since the 1990s. So why is an 'old standard' and a 'not-so-new' protocol sparking this heated debate now? The delayed emergence can be attributed to a combination of factors, including support from major companies like Google and Visa, growing interest in AI applications that require granular and automated payments, and a speculative frenzy around x402-related meme coins.

How Does x402 Work?

When a user requests a paid resource, the server does not redirect to a subscription page, but returns the 402 status code. This response includes all the information needed to complete the payment: the recipient's address, the payment amount, the supported blockchain network (such as Base or Polygon), and the currency type (such as USDC). The x402 client (such as a browser extension or Web3 wallet) translates this request into a payment prompt, which the user confirms. The wallet then completes the payment via a Layer2 network, and notifies the server after the transaction is confirmed. The server verifies the payment and unlocks the content for the user. In this way, x402 embeds payments into the HTTP protocol, making it a native part of the browser interaction. It adds a native 'value settlement' function to the internet's basic communication layer, enriching the underlying network transmission protocol.

Why Now?

Three key factors have contributed to the emergence of x402 at this particular time: growing demand for automated payments in the machine economy, the maturity of Web3 infrastructure, and support from major companies. AI applications need to call other services and data independently and frequently, and the traditional credit card system cannot support these granular machine-to-machine (M2M) payments. x402 enables payment embedded in HTTP requests, meeting the need for pay-per-API call.

Challenges and Risks

Despite its vast potential, x402 faces several challenges. First, the HTTP 402 code is still non-standardized. Second, the attitude of traditional internet giants remains to be seen. Third, there is a risk that speculative frenzy could undermine the true technological concept.

Conclusion

x402 offers a practical solution for AI payments by attempting to upgrade the core internet protocol to add payment functionality. However, the success of x402 depends on overcoming regulatory and technical challenges, and avoiding the trap of speculation.