Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong just dropped a tweet that's got the crypto world buzzing. In his post on X (view the tweet here), he introduces x402 as a way to attach stablecoin payments directly to any web request. "We think this will be a big part of the new internet," he says, encouraging developers to try it out via @CoinbaseDev.

For those new to the term, x402 is an innovative payment protocol launched by Coinbase earlier this year. It builds on the old HTTP 402 "Payment Required" status code, turning it into a modern tool for instant, onchain transactions using stablecoins like USDC. Imagine APIs, AI models, or even IoT devices paying for services automatically—without subscriptions, chargebacks, or intermediaries. It's all about pay-per-use: charge for each API call, data access, or AI inference, with built-in compliance checks to screen for illicit activities.

This isn't just tech jargon; it's a shift toward an "agentic" economy where AI agents handle transactions autonomously. According to Coinbase's developer docs (learn more here), x402 enables fast, cheap payments over HTTP, making it ideal for the next wave of internet apps. No more clunky payment gateways—everything happens seamlessly onchain, ensuring instant finality and security.

What's particularly exciting for the meme token crowd is how x402 is sparking new projects and tokens. In the replies to Armstrong's tweet, folks are hyping $AOE (Agentic Open Economy), a token specifically built for this protocol. $AOE aims to power an open economy for AI agents, allowing them to create, trade, and collaborate permissionlessly. It's currently trading around $0.0028 on platforms like Uniswap, and its community sees x402 as the blueprint for future agent-driven markets.

Other mentions include $RUSSELL, the "Coinbase Dog" meme on Base—Coinbase's Layer 2 network—and $DOG, hinting at broader adoption. Base, with its low fees and Ethereum compatibility, is a hotbed for meme tokens, and x402 could supercharge them by enabling micropayments for things like community tools, NFT drops, or even meme-based AI services.

Blockchain practitioners should keep an eye on this. x402 lowers barriers for integrating payments into dApps, potentially leading to more innovative meme projects. For instance, imagine a meme token that pays users per interaction or funds viral campaigns automatically. Tools like the x402 Foundation, backed by partners including Cloudflare, are making it easier to implement, with SDKs for agents and servers.

As the crypto space evolves, protocols like x402 bridge traditional web tech with blockchain, opening doors for meme creators to experiment. Whether you're a dev building on Base or just trading memes, this could be the start of a more efficient, AI-powered internet economy. Stay tuned—Armstrong's vision might just redefine how we pay online.