TL;DR
- X402 is a BEP-20 token on BNB Chain tied to the broader x402 payment protocol, which revives the HTTP 402 “Payment Required” code to enable instant, programmable stablecoin payments over the web.
- The protocol targets per-request monetization for APIs, AI inference, data access, and digital content—without subscriptions or logins.
- It’s designed to be blockchain-agnostic; on BNB Chain, activity is visible via the token at 0x1e8e4145506e74996f32b61de2f7f4ec60f2d102.
- As of October 27, 2025: price ~$1.16e-12, 24h volume ~$120,414, self-reported market cap ~$466,851. Markets include PancakeSwap V2 and analytics/trading on GMGN.AI.
- The ecosystem includes facilitators and tools like PayAI, AEON, AurraCloud, Heurist, and Pieverse’s x402b module (with gasless signatures and auditable receipts).
What is the x402 protocol in simple terms?
Think of x402 as an internet-native payment standard that plugs directly into the web’s request-response flow. It brings back HTTP status code 402 (“Payment Required”) so a server can say, “Pay X in stablecoins for this API call or content,” and the client—human or AI agent—can pay instantly and programmatically.
Key properties:
- Frictionless payments: Payment instructions live in standard HTTP responses, so apps and AI agents can pay without accounts or complex auth.
- Micropayments: Charge per API call, per AI inference, per kilobyte of data—no forced subscriptions.
- Blockchain-agnostic: While X402 exists on BNB Chain, the protocol itself is open and can work across networks.
- Zero protocol fees: The protocol aims for instant settlement with no protocol-level fees.
- Developer-friendly: Integration can be as simple as adding lightweight middleware. USDC is commonly referenced as the stablecoin medium of exchange.
Helpful links:
- Coinbase x402 overview: https://www.coinbase.com/blog/x402-the-internet-native-payment-protocol
- Developer docs: https://docs.cloud.coinbase.com/x402/
Why this matters to AI and APIs
- AI agent economy: Agents can autonomously discover, pay for, and consume services (compute, data, tools) in real time.
- API monetization: Providers can replace subscriptions with pay-per-use, better aligning cost with usage.
- Content monetization: True micro-paywalls make it viable to charge cents—or fractions of a cent—per article, image, or dataset.
- No-account access: Services like storage or research can accept payment without user registration.
The X402 token on BNB Chain
- Symbol: X402
- Address: 0x1e8e4145506e74996f32b61de2f7f4ec60f2d102
- Chain: BNB Chain (BEP-20) — view on BscScan: https://bscscan.com/token/0x1e8e4145506e74996f32b61de2f7f4ec60f2d102
Important distinction: “x402” is the open payment protocol. “X402” on BNB Chain is a token that exists alongside the protocol and related projects. Different teams in the ecosystem may issue their own tokens with distinct utilities.
Market snapshot (as of Oct 27, 2025)
- Price: ~$1.16e-12
- 24h Volume: ~$120,414
- Self-reported market cap: ~$466,850.57
- Liquidity/trading: PancakeSwap V2 pool data: https://www.geckoterminal.com/bsc/pools/0x52462e0802773b067f920f6ec9b60098e9161a00
Note: Market data changes quickly—always verify live numbers before making decisions.
Ecosystem: builders and facilitators
- PayAI: An x402 facilitator focused on payment verification and settlement across chains. Its own token supports fee reductions, governance, and operational costs. More info: https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/payai-network/
- AEON: Omnichain settlement enabling AI agents to pay merchants globally, powered by x402 and USDC.
- AurraCloud: Hosting and tooling for AI agents with x402 support.
- Heurist Deep Research: Web3-native AI research that charges per query (USDC) using x402.
- Pieverse x402b (BNB Chain): Adds a Facilitator module with EIP-3009 gasless payments, auditable receipts, and pieUSD (a 1:1 USDT-wrapped token) to enable signature-based, gas-free payments on BNB Chain. Overview: https://www.kucoin.com/news/pieverse-launches-x402b-protocol-to-enable-first-enterprise-grade-web-payment-standard-on-bnb-chain
Big picture: The ecosystem is moving from speculative hype toward utility—measuring value by transactions, integrations, and developer adoption.
How the payment flow works (plain-English version)
- Client requests a resource (API/data/content).
- Server responds with HTTP 402, describing how much to pay, what asset (often USDC), and where to send it.
- Client (user wallet, app, or AI agent) pays programmatically.
- Server verifies payment via a facilitator and returns the resource immediately.
Because this uses standard web patterns, developers can slot it into existing stacks with minimal friction.
Developer notes and quick integration tips
- Start with the official docs: https://docs.cloud.coinbase.com/x402/
- Choose a facilitator: A facilitator verifies on-chain payments and relays trust signals to your app. PayAI and Pieverse x402b are active in this space.
- Decide your billing model: Per call, per token (AI inference), per KB, or per minute—align to actual consumption.
- UX decisions: Consider gasless flows (EIP-3009) on BNB Chain for smoother payments; Pieverse’s x402b and pieUSD can help here.
- Observability: If you adopt auditable receipts (e.g., stored on BNB Greenfield), you get better traceability for disputes and compliance.
Trading and tracking X402
You can monitor liquidity and trade X402 on:
- PancakeSwap V2 (BSC): https://www.geckoterminal.com/bsc/pools/0x52462e0802773b067f920f6ec9b60098e9161a00
- GMGN.AI token page (live charts, smart money tracking, and trading tools): https://gmgn.ai/bsc/token/fV1R5sZ5_0x1e8e4145506e74996f32b61de2f7f4ec60f2d102
Why traders like GMGN.AI:
- Real-time analytics across meme and micro-cap tokens
- Smart money wallet tracking to spot early flow
- Automated trading (via Telegram integration), and risk flags for honeypots or high taxes
Explore more: https://gmgn.ai/?ref=fV1R5sZ5&chain=bsc
Always confirm the token address before executing any trade:
0x1e8e4145506e74996f32b61de2f7f4ec60f2d102
Security and compliance
- Open standard: The x402 protocol encourages broad participation and scrutiny.
- Coinbase-managed paths: Built-in compliance with KYT (Know Your Transaction), including OFAC screening, is referenced in Coinbase’s materials.
- Contract audits: For the specific X402 token on BNB Chain, an independently verified audit was not surfaced in the provided sources. Do your own due diligence on the contract and liquidity.
- Traceability: Pieverse’s x402b adds auditable receipts (persisted on BNB Greenfield), improving enterprise-grade logging and dispute resolution.
How this fits the meme-token landscape
While X402 isn’t a classic meme coin, it sits at an interesting intersection: crypto-native culture, AI agents, and internet payments. For meme-token participants, the angle here is utility—x402’s payment rails could become the plumbing that allows agents and apps to pay per interaction, a trend that could reshape how projects monetize users.
Key links
- BscScan (X402 token): https://bscscan.com/token/0x1e8e4145506e74996f32b61de2f7f4ec60f2d102
- Coinbase overview: https://www.coinbase.com/blog/x402-the-internet-native-payment-protocol
- x402 developer docs: https://docs.cloud.coinbase.com/x402/
- PancakeSwap V2 pool data: https://www.geckoterminal.com/bsc/pools/0x52462e0802773b067f920f6ec9b60098e9161a00
- Pieverse x402b and Greenfield receipts: https://www.kucoin.com/news/pieverse-launches-x402b-protocol-to-enable-first-enterprise-grade-web-payment-standard-on-bnb-chain
- GMGN.AI X402 page: https://gmgn.ai/bsc/token/fV1R5sZ5_0x1e8e4145506e74996f32b61de2f7f4ec60f2d102
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice. Always verify contract addresses, review audits if available, and assess market liquidity and risks before trading.