Coinbase Developers Reveal How AI Agents Could Dominate Ethereum Transactions Using Stablecoins

Coinbase developers Kevin Leffew and Lincoln Murr have unveiled how AI agents on Ethereum could autonomously execute transactions, reshaping digital commerce by making payments using stablecoins without human intervention.

TL;DR

• AI agents on Ethereum could revolutionize e-commerce by making autonomous stablecoin payments.
• The dormant HTTP 402 web standard combined with Ethereum Improvement Proposal (EIP) 3009 enables AI agents to process payments independently.
• Ethereum’s trustless settlement system is key to efficient AI agent operations.
• Coinbase has implemented HTTP 402, allowing AI-powered tools to perform transactions seamlessly.

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Ethereum’s future could be significantly influenced by AI agents capable of carrying out transactions and accessing funds on the blockchain without human involvement. Coinbase developers highlight that the revival of the HTTP 402 payment standard, alongside EIP 3009, will empower these autonomous agents to make payments, including stablecoin transfers, independently. This development is transformative for Ethereum’s decentralized ecosystem, potentially reducing human oversight in financial transactions and increasing efficiency across sectors such as e-commerce.

Role of HTTP 402 in Autonomous Payments

HTTP 402, a web standard created over 30 years ago but rarely used, is being repurposed on Ethereum to facilitate payments by AI agents. When combined with Ethereum’s smart contracts, AI agents can sign transactions and pay for services without human input. Leffew and Murr liken this to a vending machine: the AI agent receives a payment request, signs the transaction, and completes the payment to receive the service. This autonomous payment mechanism could revolutionize on-demand services such as self-driving cars, automated content generation, or apps paying for cloud storage.

How AI Agents Could Drive Ethereum’s Growth

According to Coinbase developers, AI agents have immense potential to increase Ethereum usage by automating payments for services like API access or storage fees. For instance, a self-driving taxi could autonomously pay for its operational costs, while AI models generating content could pay for data access.

1/ Ethereum has wallets.

Language models have tool calling.

What happens when tool-calling models get wallets?

You get autonomous agents, digital entities that can reason, transact, and operate on our behalf. And they’re already here.

— Ethereum (@ethereum) August 13, 2025

As these agents increasingly use Ethereum for payments, they could become some of the network’s largest users, driving demand and activity on the platform. Ethereum’s trustless settlement system makes it an ideal environment for these AI-driven operations to function securely and efficiently.

Shift Toward AI-Powered E-commerce

The rise of AI agents making autonomous payments is expected to transform e-commerce. Real-time payments by AI agents could enable new business models and economic loops. Leffew and Murr note that AI agents are already interacting with APIs to perform tasks such as image and video generation or data optimization. This shift suggests a future internet where services become self-sustaining through AI agents operating within decentralized systems. Ethereum’s composable wallets and programmable policies are critical to realizing this vision. Ethereum’s appeal lies in its ability to provide trustless settlements, eliminating delays from traditional invoicing and dispute resolution. Its blockchain infrastructure guarantees fast, reliable payments. Combined with stablecoins, this enables AI agents to operate efficiently across industries.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Autonomous Transactions and AI Agents

Q: How do AI agents make Ethereum transactions autonomously? A: AI agents can make autonomous transactions on Ethereum by utilizing the HTTP 402 web standard in conjunction with Ethereum Improvement Proposal (EIP) 3009. This combination allows them to sign transactions and handle payments without direct human intervention. Q: What role does the HTTP 402 standard play in enabling AI agents to make payments? A: The HTTP 402 standard, a payment-focused web protocol, is being repurposed to allow AI agents to initiate and complete payments for services they access on the blockchain, much like a vending machine interaction. Q: How does Ethereum's trustless settlement system benefit AI agent operations? A: Ethereum's trustless settlement system provides a secure and efficient environment for AI agents to operate, ensuring that transactions are processed reliably and without the need for intermediaries or trust in a central authority. Q: What are some potential applications for AI agents making autonomous stablecoin payments on Ethereum? A: Potential applications include self-driving cars paying for operational costs, AI models paying for data access, automated content generation services, and apps paying for cloud storage, among other on-demand services. Q: How can AI agents contribute to Ethereum's growth? A: By automating payments for services like API access and storage, AI agents can become significant users of the Ethereum network, thereby driving demand and activity on the platform. Q: How is the revival of the HTTP 402 standard by Coinbase significant for AI agents? A: Coinbase's implementation of HTTP 402 facilitates seamless transactions for AI-powered tools, enabling them to interact with services and perform payments autonomously.

Crypto Market AI's Take

This development highlights a significant convergence of AI and blockchain technology, particularly on the Ethereum network. The ability for AI agents to autonomously manage stablecoin transactions opens up a new frontier for decentralized finance and commerce. At Crypto Market AI, we've been closely following the advancements in AI agents and their integration into blockchain ecosystems. Our own platform leverages AI for sophisticated market analysis and trading strategies, recognizing the potential for intelligent automation to drive efficiency and innovation. This trend of AI agents interacting with smart contracts and managing digital assets is a key area of focus for us, as it promises to redefine how we interact with financial systems.

More to Read:

• Understanding AI Agents in the Crypto Space
• The Future of Decentralized Finance (DeFi)
• Stablecoins Explained: Uses and Risks

Source: Coinbase Devs Say AI Agents May Dominate Ethereum Transactions Using Stablecoins on August 14, 2025