AI agents will need to pay for compute, data, and API calls autonomously. The x402 HTTP payment protocol enables this machine-to-machine commerce by embedding payment requests directly into HTTP responses, allowing agents to automatically pay for resources without human intervention. Unlike traditional payment systems that require manual authorization, x402 creates a seamless payment layer for the emerging AI agent economy. Why Autonomous Payments Matter We're entering an era where AI agents will consume vast amounts of digital resources — API calls to specialized models, real-time data feeds, cloud compute cycles, and premium services. Today's payment infrastructure assumes human oversight: credit cards, invoices, and manual approvals. But autonomous agents operating at machine speed can't pause for human payment authorization every time they need a resource. The economic implications are profound. Agents that can pay for what they need will access better data, more compute power, and premium services.…