Coinbase and Visa Diverge on Machine-to-Machine Payments
Two settlement tracks are emerging: tokenized, HTTP-native micropayments (x402 + L2s) optimized for tiny, high-frequency agent calls, and card-network adaptations that preserve regulated rails with cryptographic attestations. Recent product previews (Stripe on Base, CoinGecko pricing, Coinbase Agentic Wallets) and measurement disputes over on‑chain throughput clarify that the market is nascent and likely to split by regulatory and custody requirements, not purely by technical merit.
