When the internet was created, the designers reserved a special code - 402 Payment Required - for a future where websites could charge for content directly. That was in 1997. For almost 30 years, nobody used it.
Until now.
The old way vs. the new way
The old way:- Sign up for an account
- Enter your credit card
- Pick a monthly plan ($9, $29, $99…)
- Get charged even if you don't use the service
- Deal with cancellations and forgotten subscriptions
- Connect your wallet
- Use the service
- Pay only for what you use
- Done
A real example
Let's say you want to translate a document. Today, you might sign up for a translation service, pick a plan, and translate your document. Next month, you get charged again - even though you only needed one translation.
With x402, you'd just send the document, pay $0.05 for the translation, and that's it. No account, no recurring charges.
Is it safe?
Yes. Here's why:
- You always approve first - nothing happens without your wallet signature
- No personal data is shared - the service only sees your wallet address
- Payments are on-chain - every transaction is verifiable and transparent
- No overcharges - you approve the exact amount before it's sent
Who can use this?
Anyone with a crypto wallet and some USDC. If you've ever used MetaMask, Coinbase Wallet, or Phantom - you're already set.
What's RelAI's role?
RelAI makes x402 work seamlessly. We handle the behind-the-scenes complexity:
- We process the payments between users and services
- We cover transaction fees - so users pay zero gas
- We provide the dashboard where businesses set up their services
- We settle everything in 2-5 seconds
The 402 Payment Required code waited almost 30 years. The internet is finally ready.
