Coinbase Developers: AI Agents Poised to Become Ethereum’s Biggest Power Users

AI Agents Could Redefine Ethereum’s Future

Autonomous AI-powered agents — software programs capable of thinking and transacting without human input — may soon become Ethereum’s most active users, according to Coinbase developers Kevin Leffew and Lincoln Murr.

In a post shared by the Ethereum Foundation on Wednesday, the pair explained that a long-forgotten web standard, HTTP 402 “Payment Required”, combined with Ethereum Improvement Proposal (EIP) 3009, could open the door for AI agents to execute stablecoin payments independently.

The Revival of HTTP 402

First introduced nearly 30 years ago, the HTTP 402 status code was intended for web-based payments but remained largely unused. Coinbase has now implemented the concept through its x402 payments protocol, enabling automated services to receive crypto payments without manual approval.

This capability means AI agents could autonomously:

• Pay for API calls, data storage, or compute power

• Manage operational costs for self-driving taxis

• Purchase storage space for permanent data hosting

• Request and pay for on-demand content generation

Source: Ethereum Foundation

Related: Coinbase Unlocks Off-Exchange Settlement for Institutions Through Copper’s ClearLoop, Responding to Soaring Institutional Demand

How It Works: Like a Digital Vending Machine

Leffew and Murr likened the process to a vending machine. When an AI agent encounters an HTTP 402 request, it signs a transaction and sends payment in one seamless exchange — no accounts, no intermediaries.

“One round trip. Like a vending machine. No accounts required,” the developers said.

This effectively transforms APIs into wallet-aware services, streamlining machine-to-machine commerce.

Why Ethereum Fits the Model

The Coinbase team emphasized that Ethereum’s trustless settlement layer and smart contract capabilities make it the ideal blockchain for HTTP 402-based payments.

Key benefits include:

• Atomic payments (instant, indivisible transactions)

• Programmable payment policies

• Composable wallets for flexible integration

• More efficient handling of invoices and dispute resolution compared to traditional systems

Source: Ethereum Foundation

Related: AI DApps Are Challenging DeFi and Gaming for Web3 Dominance: DappRadar Report

Early Adopters and Use Cases

HTTP 402 and EIP 3009 are already seeing real-world tests:

• Hyperbolic Labs is integrating the payment standard into its large language model (LLM) workflows

• Prodia Labs is using it to generate AI-powered images and videos on demand

The true potential, Leffew and Murr argue, lies in creating autonomous economic loops where AI agents can chain services, pay each other, and operate indefinitely without human oversight.

Conclusion

If Coinbase’s vision materializes, AI agents could fundamentally reshape Ethereum’s transaction landscape, unlocking an autonomous, machine-powered economy. By merging decades-old web infrastructure with Ethereum’s programmable finance, developers may be laying the groundwork for the next phase of Web3 automation.