The internet’s forgotten protocol…

HTTP status code 402 (payment required) is being revived through X42, a new protocol by Coinbase that enables zero-fee micropayments for API requests. The protocol simplifies monetization by eliminating traditional payment processors' fees and complexity, requiring just one line of middleware code in Node.js. It supports instant, frictionless transactions using cryptocurrency and stablecoins, enabling machine-to-machine payments and AI agent economies. The implementation allows both user-facing wallet payments and programmatic transactions for automated systems.