Block Backs x402 Standard to Enable AI Agent Payments via Bitcoin Lightning

Key Facts

1Block joined major tech firms in backing x402, an open payment standard enabling commerce for agentic AI.

Block has joined major technology firms in backing x402, an open payment standard designed to enable autonomous commerce for agentic AI. Cointelegraph reported that the integration incorporates Bitcoin Lightning Network payments into the x402 protocol, allowing AI agents to conduct financial transactions independently.

The initiative aims to establish a unified payment infrastructure for AI-driven commerce alongside industry participants including Google, Microsoft, and Coinbase. Regarding related equity performance, COIN closed at $199.21 on September 24, 2026, while MSFT closed at $497.93 and GOOGL closed at $342.36 on the same date.