Coinbase collaborates with AWS to launch the AI Agents payment layer, supporting autonomous micropayments in USDC

According to Ambcrypto, Coinbase has partnered with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to jointly launch a new payment layer that allows AI Agents to autonomously make micro-payments using USDC.

The solution integrates Coinbase's wallet infrastructure and the x402 payment protocol into Amazon Bedrock's AgentCore Payments system. Developers can build AI agents that autonomously discover services, pay on demand, and complete tasks without human intervention.

Reports indicate that the x402 protocol is based on the HTTP 402 "Payment Required" standard, with transactions completed in about 200 milliseconds at a cost of just a fraction of a cent, supporting high-frequency low-value machine-native payments. The system also includes enterprise-level budget control and compliance tools.