In a move that could reshape the digital economy, Cloudflare has teamed up with Coinbase to launch the x402 Foundation, an initiative aimed at establishing a new open standard for internet-native payments. The x402 protocol builds on existing web standards, allowing for instant micropayments using stablecoins, which could prove revolutionary for sectors like content creation and AI-driven economies. Reviving Dormant Web Standards for Modern NeedsHistorically, the HTTP 402 code has been an unused relic since its inception in the 1990s, but Cloudflare and Coinbase are breathing new life into it. During Developer Week 2025, Cloudflare showcased innovations like enhanced Workers platforms and AI integrations, which now include x402 support. The x402 Foundation could accelerate this growth by attracting more enterprises seeking efficient monetization tools.