Google has upgraded its Agent2Agent (A2A) framework, which now allows agents to pay each other. With the new Agentic Payments Protocol (AP2) and its x402 extension, Google is enabling AI agents to handle stablecoin payments directly. It is said to unlock instant micropayments and automation models that traditional payment systems can’t match.
Until now, Google Cloud’s A2A allowed AI agents across platforms to communicate and collaborate on tasks. Adding AP2 means these agents can exchange value, not just information. And with x402 as the first stablecoin facilitator for AP2, agents can monetize services, pay peers, and execute transactions on behalf of users, all without human oversight.
Interestingly, Google and Coinbase demonstrated the concept for Lowe’s Innovation Lab. In their demo, a single prompt kicked off a chain of autonomous actions where an agent researched products, built a personalized cart based on Lowe’s local inventory, checked out using stablecoins via x402, and triggered shipping, all without the user entering card details or ZIP codes.
Google says payments are just the start. As agents grow more capable, discovering services, sourcing data, or coordinating tasks, economic interactions will become central to how they work. Tools like x402 bazaar will allow agents to discover and interact with new services automatically, without any developer upgrades.
If you are a developer, you can start experimenting with x402 today through Google’s AP2 framework. For businesses, it’s an early glimpse at a world where AI doesn’t just automate tasks, it runs its own economy.
