Ethereum is introducing a new feature that allows autonomous AI agents to make payments using the HTTP 402 status code. This could influence technology usage across various industries.
How It Works — Like a Digital Vending Machine
The system enables AI agents to receive a payment request, sign a transaction, and instantly send funds to unlock a service — without the need for accounts or manual approvals.
This process could apply in various scenarios, such as self-driving taxis paying for fuel or AI models purchasing cloud storage. Coinbase developers Kevin Leffew and Lincoln Murr compared it to a vending machine: you put in the payment, and the product is delivered in one smooth transaction. Ethereum’s secure settlement layer makes the process efficient, reducing disputes and complex billing systems.
Real-World Testing Already Underway
Some developers are already experimenting with this feature. Hyperbolic Labs has added it to its large language model, while Prodia Labs is using it for AI-generated images and video. The technology could enable AI systems to link services together into self-sustaining 'economic loops,' earning and spending without human oversight.
The Future of AI Agents and Decentralized Economy
Leffew and Murr believe that the combination of stablecoins, programmable wallets, and Ethereum’s infrastructure provides everything AI agents need to manage payments independently. This paves the way for entirely new types of decentralized e-commerce.
Ethereum’s new feature significantly transforms the approach to automated payments, allowing AI agents to operate independently of human intervention. This may lead to a revolution in decentralized economy and enhance service integration.
