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X Pay Secures $1M to Scale AI Agent Payments

X Pay raised $1M led by DCI to scale payment infrastructure for AI agents and APIs on the x402 standard.

By Raina Gimmel

X Pay raises $1M

The big picture: X Pay, a payment infrastructure provider for AI agents and APIs built on the open x402 standard, has secured $1 million from nine investors, including DCI, Skyland Ventures, Zerra Ventures, and Dubai Blockchain Lab. Former OKX Chief Operating Officer Andy Cheung has joined as an advisor.

Why it matters:

  • Monetization Gap: AI agents currently struggle to pay for API access without human-set accounts, keys, or cards, limiting their autonomous functionality and the ability of APIs to monetize micro-transactions.
  • Open Standard Adoption: X Pay leverages the x402 standard, contributed by Coinbase to the Linux Foundation, enabling broader adoption and interoperability for agent payments across various services.
  • Autonomous Transactions: The platform allows AI agents to discover, decide to use, and pay for APIs directly, fostering a more dynamic and self-sufficient AI ecosystem.

How it works:

  • Single Request Payment: X Pay’s gateway enables any API endpoint to quote a price, accept a signed payment, and return its response within a single request, streamlining the transaction process.
  • USDC Settlement on Base: All payments are settled in USDC on the Base blockchain, ensuring transparent, efficient, and secure transactions.
  • Agent Wallet Controls: The system incorporates robust agent wallet controls, including per-call ceilings, rolling budgets, approved destinations, and human approval thresholds, applied before any payment is signed.

The catch: The market for autonomous AI agent payments is still nascent, and widespread adoption of the x402 standard depends on broader industry buy-in. While X Pay offers a solution, competition could emerge from other blockchain-based payment systems or traditional fintech players adapting to AI agent needs. Regulatory landscapes, particularly in the EU with MiCA, also pose compliance challenges for blockchain-based financial services.

Key Facts

  • Company: X Pay
  • Amount: $1M
  • Investors: DCI (lead), Skyland Ventures, Zerra Ventures, Dubai Blockchain Lab
  • Founder: Johnny Sluijmer
  • Announced: 2026-10-25
  • Sector: AI Agent Payments

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