The Cardano and BNB Chain blockchain ecosystems launched the first solutions based on the x402 protocol, paving the way for autonomous, transparent, and instant settlements between AI agents, apps, and users.
Developers introduced two key innovations implementing a unified principle of M2M (Machine-to-Machine) payments. On Cardano, the Masumi project launched a prototype solution based on the x402 protocol. As part of the Proof-of-Concept, users can already test the process by making transactions using small amounts of ADA or USDM on a demo page.
The x402 protocol, developed by Coinbase, enables instant crypto payments via HTTP requests using the 402 Payment Required status code. The protocol is designed for use by AI agents and lays the foundation for autonomous digital commerce.
The Masumi platform enhances the x402 payment layer with trust functionality, providing verifiable identification, reputation, and transparency of interactions. This allows the Cardano ecosystem to develop a full-fledged agent economy where all transactions occur without human intervention while remaining accountable and secure.
Meanwhile, the Quack AI team introduced x402 BNB, a unified “sign-to-pay” layer in the BNB Chain ecosystem that simplifies transactions to a single signature. The technology is based on EIP-7702 (Delegated Execution) and EIP-712 (Witness Signatures) standards, ensuring secure and transparent transactions. Gas fees are automatically paid via a sponsor layer, and each operation receives a verifiable receipt for auditing.
x402 BNB maximizes simplicity in interacting with the blockchain. Users sign a single request, and all processes, from token transfers to compliance with rules and limits, are executed automatically. For developers, this opens opportunities for mass payouts, automatic subscriptions, reward distribution, and DAO operations.
Both projects reflect a broader trend — the shift from simple value transfer to an agentic economy (AgentFi), where autonomous systems interact with each other within verifiable, transparent, and regulated protocols.
In 2025, the development of AgentFi solutions accelerated significantly. Major recent initiatives in this field include Google’s Agent Payments Protocol and Cloudflare’s Trusted Agent Protocol.
