Using SKALE for Gasless x402 Payments

The internet is changing from a place where people click and pay to one where agents talk and trade with other software. AI agents are already capable of consuming compute through MCP servers on their own, but today they still run into a problem: online payments are designed for humans, not machines.

Agentic payments are built to fix that. They allow agents to pay for the exact resources they consume, without human input, and in real time. x402 is the protocol that enables these payments natively within the internet, and SKALE is the gas-free blockchain that provides zero-cost & verifiable payment rails for agents.

What are Agentic Payments?

Agentic payments are transactions made directly between pieces of software without any human in the loop. An agent can request data, computing power, or storage, and include payment inside that same request. If the payment checks out, the service responds instantly.

Think of it like postage on a letter. The sender adds a stamp that proves delivery is paid for. The post office checks the stamp and, if it’s valid, the letter moves. Agentic payments work the same way: a small, verified “stamp” of payment travels with each request.

This model unlocks new possibilities. Programs can pay tiny amounts based on usage; for each action, file, or API call. There’s no need for monthly subscriptions, prepaid credits, or manual checkouts. 

x402: The Future of Agentic Payments

x402 is a new standard for internet payments developed by Coinbase, and being supported by the upcoming x402 Foundation, an open initiative from Coinbase and Cloudflare. This protocol enables any web service (i.e APIs, MCP servers, other agents) to charge for access; enabling a new form of pay-per-use as well as bringing an entirely new authentication scheme to the internet.

An agent attempting to purchase compute resources or access information can now clearly receive information on the required compensation needed to access 3rd party resources. This is done by having web services provide a standardized response which includes the HTTP 402 `Payment Required` status code.

This in turn allows an agent to authorize the use of funds to meet the required payment i.e $0.01 of USDC.

This design makes x402 a natural fit for agentic systems and helps drive adoption of autonomous systems forward. By negating the need for machines to have accounts or api keys; these systems can be designed with clear guidelines including spending limits from Day 1. 

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Why Agentic Payments Need Blockchain

To make agentic payments work across all systems, the need for a programmable way to move and settle payments was needed. Additionally, with traditional processors like Visa, PayPal, and Stripe, every transaction carries layers of cost, often 2–3% in fees plus fixed surcharges, making small or frequent payments economically impossible. These legacy systems also introduce latency, settlement risk, and the potential for chargebacks, all of which add friction to real-time, autonomous transactions.

Blockchain solves these problems by providing a trusted, programmable, and borderless way to settle value. Onchain settlement ensures that payments are final and verifiable with no intermediaries, no stored credit cards, and no need for services to trust each other’s databases. Small, high-frequency payments can happen safely and instantly, especially on SKALE, which has zero transaction fees. 

Because everything runs on open standards, any client that can send an HTTP request with a valid payment signature can interact with any x402-enabled service, bringing frictionless, onchain settlement to the entire internet economy.

To make agentic payments work across all systems, the need for a programmable way to move and settle payments was needed. Additionally, with traditional processes like … 

Why SKALE is the Best Blockchain for x402

SKALE’s architecture stands out as the ideal home for x402 payments. Unlike most networks where each transaction carries a gas cost, SKALE enables zero gas fees and instant finality. 

This makes it the ideal environment for x402 payments to scale, where thousands of tiny, automated payments can flow between agents and services without cost barriers or performance trade-offs. The full range of SKALE features that cater to x402 payments include: 

Zero gas fees for ANY Token - SKALE chains can be configured so users don’t pay gas at all. That keeps micro-payments truly micro, which is essential for per-request pricing.

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Unlimited growth - SKALE isn’t one shared blockchain. It’s a network of many EVM-compatible chains run by the same validator pool. The network can scale as x402 demand grows without competing for blockspace.

Predictable costs - Instead of per-transaction fees, SKALE uses a flat subscription model similar to cloud hosting. Teams pay once for their pre-paid blockspace, not for every transaction, which makes offering tiny per-use consumption sustainable.

Fast finality - SKALE confirms transactions in less than 1 second, so payments and access happen almost instantly.

Complex Settlement - While today, the exact schema requires explicit payments to be made; many organizations are collaborating on other schemes to allow for more dynamic payment situations like streaming, deferring, and more. SKALE is an ideal blockchain to bring more complex schemes since the smart contract execution cost doesn’t eat into the revenue of the micro-transaction.

Example: Merchants want to accept payments in SKL but agents are paying in USDC/USDT. With zero gas fees, a pay-and-swap scheme could be explored that allows any asset to be accepted by the facilitator and automatically swapped into SKL for reception by the merchant.

What AI Agents Can Unlock with x402 on SKALE

AI agents can already think, plan, and act, but they primarily still depend on payment systems designed for humans such as credit cards. Running x402 on SKALE gives them true economic autonomy; the ability to transact on their own, instantly, and at scale.

With SKALE’s speed and zero-gas model, agents can pay for services and resources directly without being slowed down by transaction costs or waiting for confirmations.

If you’re interested in building on SKALE, join the SKALE/FAIR builders group.