AI agents use crypto to pay for services through x402
Chainalysis data indicates that AI agents have executed more than 138 million payments via the x402 protocol on Base. Most of these transfers were very small, with over 87% worth less than ten cents, and stablecoins help enable these micropayments. The report cautions that a high transaction count alone does not prove broad adoption of autonomous AI agents.
Chainalysis reported on 14 October that autonomous software has made over 138 million x402 payments on Base. The protocol, first built by Coinbase, lets programs pay for online services automatically rather than requiring a person to approve every charge. Stablecoins make tiny amounts practical where card fees would dominate. Most transfers were between one and ten cents, and over 87% stayed below ten cents.
Adoption signals include faster wallet use: median time from funding to first payment fell from 73 days to 18 minutes, while wallets topped up within 30 days rose from 70.6% to 89.3%. Payments cover data, API calls, AI model access, and code checks. US-linked wallets led AI-model spending, while Chinese-linked wallets dominated security and code-analysis payments, largely to AgentLISA.
This could affect developers, small online service providers, and businesses relying on automated software, because near-zero-cost machine payments may make pay-per-use data and AI tools more accessible. It may also raise questions about oversight, fraud, and accountability when software spends funds without per-transaction human approval. However, high transaction counts alone may not show widespread autonomous-agent adoption, so social and economic effects could remain limited or uneven until clearer evidence emerges.