x402 — HTTP-Native Payments

x402 gates API resources behind USDC micropayments using HTTP 402 Payment Required.

Step 0: Setup

Before running any script, install dependencies in the skill directory (once per environment):

cd \x3Cskills-dir>/x402-pay
npm install

No API keys required.

Step 1: Detect your wallet

Read references/detecting-wallets.md to choose which wallet to use. Once you've picked one, return here and continue from Step 2.

Step 2: Is the Service Known?

If you already have a specific service URL in mind that returned 402 payment required, skip straight to Step 3: Get the Service Details.

Otherwise continue to Step 2a: Find a Service

Step 2a: Find a Service

List all available services from x402-list and pick the most appropriate one:

node scripts/search-services.mjs search

If nothing suitable is found, try the Coinbase bazaar:

node scripts/search-services.mjs search \x3Ckeyword> --source bazaar

If still nothing, search the internet for x402 services matching the user's need.

Step 3: Get the Service Details

Once you have a service URL, get its full details (schemas, parameters, examples):

node scripts/search-services.mjs details \x3Cresource-url>

Then preview the live price — this reads the 402 challenge without paying and is wallet-independent:

node scripts/check-price.mjs \x3Curl> [--method GET|POST] [--body '{"key":"value"}']

Note this price: you'll use it in Step 4 to check whether your balance is sufficient (and, if funding, how much to deposit), and show it to the user before paying in Step 5.

Example working service

https://x402.ottoai.services/crypto-news

Step 4: Check Balance

Check your wallet's USDC balance on Base — see references/wallet-flows.md for the method for your wallet (if you don't already know it) — and compare it against the price you previewed in Step 3.

• Balance ≥ service price → proceed to Step 5
• Balance \x3C service price → fund it: Read references/near-intents-funding.md for the cross-chain funding flow. Always use NEAR intents to fund the wallet if the balance is low. If the user has no crypto to swap from, the onramp path (references/onramp-funding.md) funds the wallet from Cash App / Robinhood / Revolut.

Gas: No ETH needed — you sign off-chain only. The x402 facilitator submits the on-chain transaction and covers gas. This applies to all wallet types.

Step 5: Pay

Always show the price before paying. Confirm with user before paying.

Show the user the price you previewed in Step 3 (if significant time has passed, re-run check-price.mjs in case it changed). Always get their confirmation before paying — for any amount. Then pay the endpoint using your wallet — see references/wallet-flows.md for the method for your wallet (if not already known).

Step 6: Confirm

Report the response body and any transaction hash to the user.

Rules

• Always ask the user before executing any command. Show the exact command you intend to run and wait for explicit approval before running it — this applies to wallet, payment, and funding commands.
• Abide by configured safeguards such as wallet spend limits and allowlists.
• When funding, always confirm the refund destination (address, chain, and origin-chain vs. NEAR Intents balance) with the user before any deposit.
• Never pay silently — always show the decoded price first
• Confirm with user before any payment
• Always report the tx hash after a successful payment