x402: The Key to Internet Money, Micropayments & The AI Agent Economy | Sam Ragsdale

In this Bankless podcast episode, Austin Adams interviews Sam Ragsdale from Merit Systems about x402, a protocol designed for gating access to API resources via crypto payments. Ragsdale explains the history of the 402 HTTP status code, its original intent for micropayments, and how it's now being realized with blockchain technology. They discuss how x402 works, its potential to revolutionize internet commerce by enabling micropayments and composable APIs, and the role of Merit Systems in fostering this ecosystem. The conversation also covers the current uses of x402, including meme coins and AI resources, and the potential for new business models and internet topologies.