The Linux Foundation has launched the x402 Foundation to govern an open protocol for AI agent payments, with founding members including Google, Microsoft, Amazon Web Services, major payment networks, and crypto firms like Coinbase. The initiative aims to standardize payments for autonomous AI transactions on both crypto and traditional financial rails. This move aligns with industry expectations that AI agents will soon become a dominant force in online transactions.
The Linux Foundation launched the x402 Foundation on Thursday, establishing a governing body for the x402 protocol with help from Coinbase and its creators. Founding members include tech giants Google, Microsoft, and Amazon Web Services, alongside American Express, Mastercard, Visa, Cloudflare, Shopify, Stripe, Circle, Base, Polygon Labs, Solana Foundation, Thirdweb and KakaoPay.
“The internet was built on open protocols,” said Linux Foundation CEO Jim Zemlin, explaining the rationale for an open-source structure. Coinbase stated that launching under the Linux Foundation provides a “neutral, nonprofit home,” which could attract broader support from developers and firms.
The initiative stems from a belief that AI agents will be primary users of blockchain payments. Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong said, “There will be more AI agents transacting online than humans very soon.” The x402 protocol is an open standard allowing AI agents to autonomously pay for API access and digital services.
Transaction activity for the protocol peaked in November last year. Data from Dune Analytics shows a weekly peak of 13.7 million transactions in early November, followed by a sharp decline to between 29,000 and 1.1 million weekly transactions in 2026.
