Coinbase development staff realise that autonomous AI agents will become Ethereum's most significant user base, leveraging a long-dormant web standard to make real-world payments in cryptocurrency.

The programme is powered by the HTTP 402 'Payment Required' status, a web standard that was defined thirty years ago. It has now been combined with Ethereum Improvement Proposal 3009 to enable automated stablecoin transfers.

Developers are already experimenting, proving the programme is moving from a theoretical possibility to a practical reality.

The shift could be transformative, as it allows AI agents to autonomously pay for services, eliminating the need for human oversight of API calls or data storage. Potential applications range from self-driving taxis covering their own costs to AI models creating content on demand.

Ethereum's trustless settlement layer makes it the ideal blockchain for this new payment protocol.