The cross-chain agent payment pattern known as x402 has processed more than 120 million transactions across 14 blockchains, with Base and Solana accounting for the vast majority of that activity. CoinDesk data shows Base alone has handled roughly 70 million of those transactions, while Solana has processed about 45 million. USDC volume on x402 has topped $41 million to date. The milestone arrives as Ripple launches its own x402-compatible tooling, the XRPL AI Starter Kit.
A two-chain dominance
Base and Solana together make up nearly all x402 transaction volume. Chainalysis notes that Base went from near-zero to more than 100 million agentic transactions by the first quarter of 2026 — a ramp that underscores how quickly the pattern has caught on. Solana, with its own fast finality and low fees, has carved out a roughly 37% share of the x402 market. Both chains offer cheap, fast settlement, which is essential for automated agent-to-agent payments.
Ripple enters with XRP and RLUSD
Ripple is now offering its own x402 infrastructure through the XRPL AI Starter Kit, which supports payments using XRP and the company’s RLUSD stablecoin. The kit is designed to let software agents make standardized on-chain transactions without manual intervention. RLUSD currently has a circulating supply of $1.731 billion, backed by $1.833 billion in reserves according to Ripple's latest monthly attestation. XRP serves as the native settlement token for speed and liquidity on the XRPL, while RLUSD gives enterprises a dollar-pegged option with regular reserve reports.
Choosing a settlement layer
All three chains — XRPL, Base, and Solana — offer low fees and fast finality. The real differences come down to liquidity, developer tooling, and compliance requirements. For teams building agent payment flows today, a dual-rail approach is recommended: using USDC to capture existing liquidity on Base and Solana while also preparing for XRPL improvements and Ripple’s enterprise push. The choice is less about raw speed and more about which ecosystem matches the project’s needs.
With x402 now a proven pattern and three major blockchains competing for agent payment volume, developers and enterprises have multiple viable options. Ripple’s move signals that stablecoin-backed agent payments are becoming a priority for the industry.
