Could This Catalyst Send Cardano Soaring?

Core Insights - Cardano's co-founder Charles Hoskinson announced on Oct. 28 that a significant development is forthcoming, potentially linking the blockchain to AI-to-AI commerce [1] - The upgrade aims to facilitate micro-transactions for AI agents, which could transform web economics and introduce new business models [2] Upgrade Details - The x402 protocol revives the "402 Payment Required" HTTP status, allowing websites to request payments from users, which was previously underutilized [3][4] - Cardano's recent upgrade enables the settlement of these payment requests in its native coin and stablecoins, creating a framework for AI agents to transact with websites [4] - Initial proofs of concept demonstrate the functionality of the 402 code, involving a crypto wallet and on-chain settlement, although these are still in early stages [5] Future Implications - This upgrade positions Cardano to potentially capture value from AI-to-AI payments on the internet, although its practical utility remains to be seen [6][7] - Adoption of the new standard by third parties will be crucial for realizing the upgrade's benefits [7]