Coinbase-backed x402 adds batch settlement for AI agent payments

Coinbase-backed x402 added batch settlement to cut costs and friction for high-frequency AI agent micropayments, enabling sellers to redeem many tiny offchain vouchers in single onchain transactions. The feature supports sub-$0.0001 payments and ERC-20 tokens, is available in TypeScript and Go (Python coming), and follows integrations with AWS that allow USDC payments on Base and Solana. Market impact: batch settlement should materially lower on-chain gas overhead for machine-to-machine payments, potentially increasing demand for Ethereum-native ERC-20 liquidity and activity on chains used for agent payments (Base, Solana), while accelerating infrastructure adoption for AI-driven crypto commerce. Broader industry moves (Circle’s agent tools, Aptos’ $50M pledge) reinforce a constructive adoption narrative for crypto payment rails.