Block adds Bitcoin Lightning support to x402 payment standard

Block has joined the x402 Foundation and added Bitcoin Lightning support to the x402 payment protocol. Block said on Thursday that Lightning suits the low-cost, high-volume payments that agentic commerce will require. Steve Lee, head of Block's Bitcoin development initiative Spiral, said the move could help make Bitcoin everyday money for people and the agents acting for them. The x402 standard enables AI agents and web services to pay autonomously for API access, data and digital services. Google, Microsoft, Amazon Web Services, Coinbase and the Solana Foundation also back the x402 Foundation. The Linux Foundation launched the x402 Foundation in April. Block also participates in the Universal Commerce Protocol, which aims to enable AI-driven commerce for small businesses, according to Block's announcement.