Ripple, Coinbase, and Circle have joined the newly launched x402 Foundation as premier members, a Linux Foundation-hosted initiative that aims to standardize internet-native payments for AI agents and applications. The foundation oversees the open x402 protocol, originally contributed by Coinbase, which embeds payment capabilities into standard web interactions.
Open Protocol for AI-Driven Transactions
The x402 protocol is designed to let AI agents, APIs, and applications send and receive money as seamlessly as they exchange data. As AI agents evolve from making recommendations to independently purchasing services, accessing paid APIs, and completing transactions, the need for a fast, reliable payment layer becomes critical. The foundation's vendor-neutral governance ensures that the infrastructure supports multiple networks and payment methods without single-company control.
Ripple's Role and XRP Ledger Integration
Markus Infranger, senior vice president of RippleX, emphasized that open standards like x402 lay the groundwork for trusted, interoperable machine-to-machine payments. Ripple has already built XRP Ledger infrastructure that supports x402, enabling AI agents to transact using XRP and Ripple's RLUSD stablecoin. This integration positions Ripple at the forefront of the emerging AI payment ecosystem.
Industry-Wide Support
Alongside Ripple, Coinbase and Circle — the issuer of USDC — have signed on as premier members, signaling broad industry alignment around the open standard. The Linux Foundation's stewardship provides a neutral home for the protocol's development, which could become a backbone for autonomous commerce as AI adoption accelerates.