Block Adds Bitcoin Lightning Support to AI Agent Payments Protocol x402

Jack Dorsey-led fintech company Block is integrating the Bitcoin Lightning Network into x402, an AI agent payments protocol. The move is aimed at expanding Bitcoin’s role in environments where AI agents process large volumes of micropayments.

Crypto media outlet Cointelegraph reported on Sept. 25 that Block had joined the x402 Foundation and would add Lightning Network support to the x402 protocol.

Block views the Lightning Network as well suited to the small, high-frequency payments needed for AI agent-based commerce. Steve Lee, head of Spiral, Block’s Bitcoin development initiative, said bringing Lightning to x402 is “a concrete step” toward making Bitcoin a currency used in everyday transactions by both people and AI agents.”

He added that the company would support the industry in building more services on top of it.

x402 is an open payment standard designed to let AI agents and web services autonomously pay for API access, data and digital services without separate manual payment steps. The x402 Foundation was launched under the Linux Foundation in April. Participants include Google, Microsoft, Amazon Web Services, Coinbase and the Solana Foundation.

Block is also accelerating its push to expand infrastructure for AI-based commerce. It previously joined the Universal Commerce Protocol project, which supports AI-driven commerce for small businesses.