How emerging public chains compete for x402 ecosystem dividends: A review of early projects on BSC and Solana

Author: David, TechFlow

Original Title: x402 Frenzy on BASE: Where Are the Asset Opportunities on BSC and Solana?

If you open x402’s on-chain data now, you’ll notice an interesting phenomenon: a sea of Base blue badges.

All tens of thousands of transactions in the past 24 hours occurred on Base. No Ethereum mainnet, and certainly no BSC or Solana in sight.

This is normal, after all, x402 is a protocol proposed by Coinbase, so naturally it would run on its own Base chain first. Previously, $PING surged, and various similar copycat projects also appeared. With this trump card, Base’s daily active users and attention have been soaring.

But is x402 only playable on Base?

From a technical perspective, the core of x402 is the HTTP 402 status code plus on-chain stablecoin payments. Simply put, any chain that can run smart contracts, has affordable gas fees, and stablecoin liquidity can do it.

(If you’re not familiar with the technology behind x402 and its supporting protocols, please refer to: x402 Is Getting More Competitive, Discover New Asset Opportunities in ERC-8004 in Advance)

The reason x402 is only on Base is not a technical limitation, but rather Coinbase’s home field advantage. But the technology is open source, and the protocol can be forked, which means other chains still have opportunities.

Currently, there’s an interesting situation in the x402 narrative:

The two chains with the core technical standards (Ethereum and Base) each hold ERC-8004 and x402, but lack hype and liquidity; while the two chains with the most traffic (BNB Chain and Solana) lack the relevant technical orthodoxy and projects.

So in this uneven development, absence is sometimes not a bad thing—it actually gives new projects room to grow.

We’ve reviewed the current x402-related projects on BNB Chain and Solana to help you better identify assets in this narrative cycle.

BNB Chain Ecosystem Project Review

BNB Chain’s previous moves in Perp DEX and meme launches have been widely recognized, producing assets like $Aster and $币安人生; now with x402, the entire chain ecosystem seems a bit too quiet.

But from infrastructure to applications, some projects are quietly brewing and building.

b402, Payment Protocol Standard (No Token Yet)

If you look at x402’s current on-chain data, you’ll see that almost all Facilitators are on Base and Solana.

If you don’t know what a Facilitator is, a simple explanation is:

The payment processing center in the x402 ecosystem, responsible for verifying AI payment requests and handling on-chain settlements. Without it, Agent payment requests cannot become actual on-chain transactions.

What does this mean? If an AI Agent on BSC wants to charge fees, it either has to cross-chain to Base or build its own payment system from scratch.

Among all the infrastructure BSC might need, the payment layer is the most critical. Without payments, there’s no economic activity; without economic activity, Agents are just toys.

This is what b402 is doing—the first AI Agent payment standard on BNB Chain.

Simply put, b402 brings the full capabilities of x402 to BSC, but uses a different technical path.

Because BSC tokens (like USDT) do not support EIP-3009, and 3009 is a standard that allows tokens to support “gasless” transactions. With it, users can sign an authorization, and someone else (such as a service provider) can pay the gas fee to complete the transfer for you.

Why is it a problem that BSC’s USDT doesn’t have this feature?

Imagine an AI Agent needs to pay to call an API. On Base, it just signs an authorization, and x402’s facilitator pays the gas. But on BSC, since USDT doesn’t have EIP-3009, the Agent must hold BNB to pay the gas fee itself.

So B402 implements the above functionality through a series of mechanisms, allowing users to pay with just a signature, without needing to hold BNB for gas.

Looking closely at B402’s documentation, you’ll find it mainly solves three problems:

1. Allows all BEP-20 tokens on BSC to be used for Agent payments, not just a specific token;

2. Integrates ERC-8004, enabling Agent identity verification and payment within the same system;

3. Millisecond-level processing speed, which is crucial for high-frequency Agent interactions.

More ambitiously, B402 is not content with just being a protocol. Its architecture diagram makes this clear:

The base layer is the protocol (smart contracts), the middle layer is the service layer (Facilitator and b402scan), and the top layer is developer tools (SDK).

Among them, b402scan is particularly noteworthy. It’s not just a simple x402scan-like block explorer, but an AI service “seller launchpad,” more like a crypto version of Alibaba and Shopify.

Put simply, b402scan aims to solve the problem of how AI services can quickly go live and be discovered by the market. Suppose you have a weather data API and want to charge AI Agents for its use.

In the traditional model, you’d have to build your own payment system, handle on-chain transactions, and find ways to get discovered. But with b402scan, you only need a few steps: upload your API info, set a price, and deploy on-chain.

The remaining payment verification, on-chain settlement, and curation are all handled by b402.

This is a bit like the early days of Taobao. Before Taobao, individuals who wanted to open online stores had to handle payments, logistics, and promotion themselves. Taobao provided a one-stop platform, making it easy for anyone to open a store.

For AI service providers on BNB Chain, b402scan is just such a platform. And buyers who need services can directly explore available services on b402scan.

Unibase, AI Memory Layer + x402 Facilitator ($UB)

What Unibase does is actually different from B402. B402 is a payment protocol redesigned for BSC (because BSC tokens don’t support EIP-3009), while Unibase directly ports Coinbase’s x402 protocol to BSC.

According to its official website x402.unibase.com, Unibase is “the first x402 Facilitator on BSC,” supports the EIP-3009 standard, and provides standard x402 interfaces such as verify and settle.

It didn’t force BSC’s USDT to support x402, but instead created XUSD, a wrapped stablecoin specifically designed for x402 and supporting EIP-3009. Users can wrap USDC 1:1 into XUSD and unwrap it after use.

Any x402 application running on Base, in theory, only needs to change the Facilitator address and token address (USDC→XUSD) on Unibase, with no need to modify the code logic, and it can run on BSC.

In addition to the Facilitator, Unibase has also developed a BitAgent platform, allowing developers to quickly launch AI Agents. Combined with Unibase Memory (memory storage layer), it forms a complete ecosystem of “payment + issuance + memory.” It’s like a mini version of the Base AI ecosystem replicated on BSC.

Pieverse, Facilitator Solving Compliance Issues ($PIEVERSE, Pre-TGE Event Ongoing)

For traditional enterprises using AI Agents, the biggest headache is probably not technology, but financial compliance. Every payment requires an invoice, audit proof, and compliance with local tax laws.

The original x402 protocol didn’t consider these, but Pieverse’s x402b did.

Pieverse’s Facilitator automatically generates “jurisdiction-compliant receipts” for every payment settlement and permanently stores them on BNB Greenfield (BSC’s decentralized storage layer).

This means enterprises can retrieve the complete proof of any AI Agent transaction at any time to meet audit requirements.

From an investment perspective, if you believe the enterprise AI Agent market will explode, Pieverse could be an interesting target. Previously, Pieverse was also a graduate of Binance MVB Season 9 project incubation, receiving $7M in strategic funding led by Animoca Brands.

Currently, Pieverse is also running a Pre-TGE event in Binance Wallet. Participation requires spending 15 points, and you must also complete various tasks such as following, reposting, and using the product to qualify for the airdrop.

AEON, Crypto Payments with x402 Integration (No Token Yet)

AEON is a larger AI payment framework, with x402 being just one of the protocols it integrates.

What AEON is really doing is connecting cryptocurrency with real-world payments. According to their data, AEON has already connected with over 20 million merchants, mainly in Southeast Asia, Latin America, Africa, and other emerging markets.

On October 27, AEON launched the x402 Facilitator on BNB Chain, enabling AI Agents to use AEON’s payment network.

AEON’s advantage is that it was the winner of BNB Chain MVB Season 10, standing out from over 500 projects. More importantly, it is already in talks with Visa and Mastercard, planning to enter the North American and European markets in 2025.

From an investment perspective, AEON is not a pure x402 concept, but a comprehensive “AI + payments + real-world adoption” project.

TermiX, Integrating x402 to Enable Every Agent to Charge Fees (No Token Yet)

TermiX plays a unique role in BSC’s x402 ecosystem: it’s an Agent creation platform, but the key is that these Agents can all charge fees via x402.

Simply put, TermiX provides a low-code environment where you can create AI Agents by dragging and dropping. More importantly, these Agents are born with “cashier functionality”: by integrating the x402 protocol, every Agent can autonomously charge fees.

For example, if you create an “on-chain data analysis Agent,” other users or Agents who want to use its services will automatically trigger x402 payments. TermiX’s SDK has already encapsulated the x402 payment process, so creators don’t need to understand payment technical details—just set the price.

The October 26 tweet showcased their demo: you can create a token through a simple conversation, and all on-chain operations involved in the process can be automatically paid for via x402. This means Agents on TermiX can not only charge fees, but also proactively pay for other services.

From the perspective of the BSC x402 ecosystem, if B402 and Unibase are infrastructure, then TermiX is the application layer, bringing more Agents into the market—all of whom are potential x402 users.

Zara AI, AI Development Factory Platform (No Token Yet)

Zara AI is an autonomous AI development factory and agent platform that allows users to quickly build, test, deploy, and monetize AI-driven applications and agents within minutes.

According to public information, Zara integrates the x402 protocol, enabling AI agents to make instant USDC payments via a single API request.

Agents can autonomously discover services at runtime, negotiate prices, and pay via x402, deploying dApps with built-in payment functionality on Solana, Base, and BNB Chain.

Its partner Vistara Labs has also open-sourced b402 (gasless payments on BNB Chain, mentioned earlier), enabling cross-chain agent transactions.

Solana Ecosystem Project Review

First, the previously surging PayAI Network will not be elaborated here. As the core facilitator of x402 in the Solana ecosystem, it currently acts as a Facilitator, handling verification and settlement.

Besides Meme projects, some more fundamentally sound projects are being driven by Solana’s official hackathons.

On October 28, Solana launched the official x402 hackathon, co-hosted with Trends.fun, with a total prize pool of $50K, covering five tracks:

Best Trustless Agent, Best x402 API Integration, Best MCP Server, Best x402 Dev Tool, Best x402 Agent Application. The event runs until November 11, with winners announced on November 17.

From the themes of these competitions, you can also see some hot or missing directions around x402 in the Solana ecosystem:

• Beforehand, AI verification/reputation assessment: Before making mutual payments, how do I know who this AI is? What’s its reputation?

• During, intermediary bridge: Similar to Payai, when AI pays for an API, the crypto payment needs an intermediary to relay the request on-chain.

• The main actor, AI: Develop real AI applications that use x402, not just pure Meme like $PING.

As soon as the hackathon announcement was released, the comments section exploded with various Solana ecosystem projects actively responding.

Daydreams, Community-Driven x402 Ecosystem Builder ($DREAMS)

On the x402 Facilitator leaderboard, Daydreams currently ranks third, having processed over 50,000 transactions.

On October 30, Daydreams announced an interesting initiative: releasing 20 bounties of $1,000 each, totaling $20,000. Each bounty funds the development of a small API service, all of which charge via x402. They call them “Microbusinesses that can be built in a day.”

This model is very clever. Instead of developing all services themselves, they let the community build them. Every developer who receives a bounty will create an x402 pay-per-use API, which will attract more AI Agents to use and pay for them. Daydreams provides three core tools to support this ecosystem:

Daydreams Framework: A modular Agent building framework supporting TypeScript, enabling rapid assembly of AI Agents

Daydreams Router: Allows Agents to access various AI models such as GPT, Claude, Groq, with instant USDC settlement via x402

LUCID Platform (coming soon): Combines x402 and ERC-8004, giving Agents identity, payment capability, and autonomous operation

Daydreams not only supports Solana, but also covers Base and Starknet, making it a true multi-chain Facilitator.

Switchboard, x402-Compatible Oracle ($SWTCH)

Switchboard is a decentralized oracle protocol in the Solana ecosystem. Its core products include Surge (real-time price feeds with sub-100ms latency), Oracle Quotes (lock-free on-chain integration), and verifiable randomness services, protecting over $5 billion in assets for more than 50 protocols.

On October 23, Switchboard achieved x402 compatibility via the Corbits SDK, becoming the “only x402-compatible oracle” at present.

This integration allows AI agents to pay for data queries on demand with SPL tokens (such as USDC), with each query costing less than $0.001.

Frego – Web3 AI Security Platform ($FREGO)

Frego’s main business is providing a unified control plane for building, deploying, and managing AI agents in blockchain environments.

Core features include FregOS (Web3 AI agent operating system), real-time security guardrails, full observability, and automated compliance auditing.

FregOS has native x402 support, allowing agents to seamlessly handle micropayments (such as paying for cross-chain data or services with SPL tokens on Solana).

Features include transaction simulation for risk assessment, policy enforcement to block unsafe payments, and one-click API integration for agent-to-agent business.

Frego’s guardrail feature ensures x402 transactions comply with security protocols, preventing unauthorized fund loss and other exploits.

Foundry, AI-Native Agent Infrastructure ($FDRY)

Foundry builds dedicated AI agents for small teams and AI-native startups, focusing on specific domain tasks rather than general-purpose tools.

Its product line includes generating professional video marketing content, programming AI agents, and a feature called Unbrowse, enabling AI agents to browse the internet faster, among others.

However, $FDRY has a small market cap and is highly volatile.

The recent catalyst is that Foundry has integrated x402 for autonomous network agent payments, enabling real-time micropayments for network-layer operations via Unbrowse.

On October 30, it announced participation in the x402 Solana hackathon, focusing on real-time AI settlement, and was also included by CoinGecko in the x402 ecosystem token list.

NICO, Solana On-Chain AI Companion ($NICO)

Niconico.ai is an AI-driven co-pilot tool designed specifically for the Solana blockchain, aiming to simplify user interaction with on-chain activities.

It integrates DeepSeek (AI processing), Helius (Solana blockchain data), and Privy (wallet integration) APIs, allowing users to get started with just an email. Core features include trend analysis (identifying hot Solana tokens), token insights, on-chain execution, price prediction, and an upcoming sniping tool.

Similarly, the NICO token currently has a very low market cap and should be approached with caution.

The project team is exploring x402 protocol integration to enable USDC micropayments in the application. On October 28, their tweet confirmed “$NICO is launching on x402, allowing users to pay with USDC via 402 HTTP requests.”

Opus Genesis, Social-Driven Autonomous AI Agents ($OPUS)

Opus Genesis is a project on Solana focused on autonomous AI agents, integrating blockchain with social networks to cultivate AI capable of autonomous operations.

Opus previously integrated x402, allowing AI personas to conduct agent-to-agent transactions, data queries, and small business operations via x402.

Specific applications include pay-per-use API calls ($0.001–0.01 per request) and M2M (machine-to-machine) payments for trend analysis or community governance.

The project won third place in the Coinbase x402 hackathon (then named x402 OPUS Infinite Marketplace) and is currently participating in the ongoing Solana x402 hackathon.

Due to space limitations, not all x402 ecosystem projects on Solana are listed here.

However, the above projects demonstrate the diversity of the Solana x402 ecosystem, ranging from oracle infrastructure to AI security, development frameworks, and autonomous agent platforms. We can look forward to the winning projects that emerge after the hackathon concludes.