10x more tools on x402
Apify introduced x402, a protocol enabling AI agents to make micro-payments via Interledger to access paid web tools and APIs per request, without subscriptions. This expands available tools by up to 10x for developers.
Background
- Apify is a web scraping and automation platform that lets developers build and run "actors" (cloud-based scripts) to extract data from websites. It now offers over 3,000 such tools in its marketplace.
- "x402" is a lightweight payment protocol Apify is introducing for AI agents — automated AI programs that browse the web, take actions, or use APIs on behalf of a user. The idea is that agents can pay tiny amounts per API call or tool access, enabling them to use services that aren't free.
- The blog announces that Apify's entire marketplace of actors is now available to AI agents via x402 micropayments, dramatically expanding the number of tools an agent can pay to use (hence "10x more tools").
- This matters because most AI agents today are limited to free or subscription-only services. Micropayment protocols like x402 aim to unlock pay-per-use access, potentially making agents more capable and independent — but also raise open questions about cost control, abuse, and economic sustainability.