Coinbase-backed payment protocol ‘x402’ has gained traction with it seeing a notable increase in transactions. The surge is attributable to user activity and on-chain interest rebounding. Total transactions reached 932,440 in the week ending October 20, 2025, as per Dune Analytics data.
With the increase, this week is one of the busiest in recent months for x402. According to the data, throughout May to mid-October, x402 recorded steady yet subdued transaction levels. These transactions rose during late October 2025, indicating a change in user behavior.
Rising on-chain activity
Beyond the rise in x402 transactions, Dune’s data also shows a rising trend this month. In early May, there were only six active buyers and sellers who made 47 trades. A week later, that number doubled, and transactions rose to 158. By late May, activity picked up further, hitting 433 transactions involving 15 buyers and 20 sellers. In early June, participation grew again, with 39 buyers completing 246 trades.
The real turning point came during the week of October 20, when activity spiked sharply. More than 61,290 buyers and over 372 sellers transacted. The spike suggests that more people are actively using the blockchain, likely due to increasing interest in AI-based payment systems.
The AI payments revolution
According to popular X user Cygaar, “This is why x402 is so powerful: it simplifies and standardizes payments for AI agents.” He explained that unlike traditional systems, which can be slow and unreliable, x402 allows instant and secure crypto transactions without needing trust between parties.
On October 23, Coinbase introduced Payments MCP (Model Context Protocol), a tool that lets AI agents use natural language to access crypto wallets and perform stablecoin transactions without needing API keys. Based on the x402 payment standard, it allows AI models like Claude or Gemini to handle on-chain payments, such as funding compute or accessing paywalled data. The protocol aims to integrate AI with decentralized finance for autonomous transactions.
While the crypto community is noting increased usage of x402, various names are seeing it as an emerging trend. BNB Chain noted on X that traditional online payments often face delays, high fees, and reliance on intermediaries. The post explained that x402 introduces an agent-to-agent model that supports direct stablecoin transactions, faster settlements, and reduced human involvement in processing.
Moreover, Web3 developer Niels explained that while x402 solved payments, Brevis adds verification using zero-knowledge proofs. “x402 built the payment rails. Brevis is building the proof rails,” he noted.
This surge highlights a shift in blockchain use. x402 is showing AI systems can handle payments securely and efficiently, signaling progress toward more transparent and automated digital transactions.
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