Stripe has introduced a new payment system that enables artificial intelligence agents to automatically pay for digital services in cryptocurrency, marking a major step toward machine-to-machine commerce.
The feature, revealed on February 11 by Stripe product manager Jeff Weinstein, is currently available in preview. It integrates support for Base, an Ethereum-based blockchain network, through the x402 payment protocol. With the update, AI agents can make instant payments using USD Coin (USDC), a dollar-pegged stablecoin.
We’re launching with support for x402 using USDC stablecoins on @base, with more protocols, payment methods, currencies, and chains to come. Let us know which to prioritize.
And sales tax, refunds, and reporting just work. (You only need to think about crypto if you want to!)
— Jeff Weinstein (@jeff_weinstein) February 10, 2026
Built for machine-to-machine payments
According to Weinstein, most existing payment systems are built for people, not automated software. AI agents, he explained, require payment rails that are fast, low-cost, and able to operate continuously without manual oversight.
Under the new setup, businesses generate a standard Stripe Payment Intent, after which Stripe assigns a unique wallet address to each transaction. When an AI agent sends USDC to that address, the payment can be tracked in real time via the Stripe dashboard, webhooks, or API.
Once confirmed, funds are credited directly to the merchant’s Stripe balance, just like a traditional payment. Stripe also handles tax reporting, refunds, and compliance using its existing infrastructure, reducing operational friction for developers.
x402 protocol powers instant access
The system is built on x402, an open protocol inspired by the long-unused HTTP “402 Payment Required” status code. When an AI agent attempts to access a paid service, it receives a payment request. After completing the USDC transaction on Base, access is automatically unlocked.
Thanks to Base’s low fees and rapid settlement times, payments are completed within seconds, making the system well-suited for frequent, low-value transactions. Developers can charge per API call, per second of compute time, or per data request, rather than relying on subscriptions or prepaid credits.
To support adoption, Stripe has released an open-source command-line tool called purl, along with sample code in Python and Node.js, allowing developers to test automated payments easily.
Stripe said support for additional blockchains, currencies, and protocols will follow. Still, for now, USDC on Base offers the stability and predictable pricing needed to power autonomous AI transactions at scale.
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