Infrastructure

The redesign requires new deployments rather than in-place upgrades of existing 2.x identities, according to the project's changelog.

The Lightning payment specification has been merged into x402’s repository, while a Python implementation still awaits review and real-node testing.

The draft keeps amounts confidential but preserves issuer enforcement powers, tackling requirements behind institutional interest in permissioned networks.

The Hashgraph Group, Merck KGaA and PwC Germany said they are testing a system that records Merck's physical authentication scans on Hedera to document cocoa origin, timed to an EU deforestation law that applies to large operators on Dec. 30. The announcement names no cocoa farmer, processor or chocolate brand, discloses no volumes and sets no deployment date.

A joint Visa and Artemis analysis finds roughly 4,000 wallets drive about 90% of x402's adjusted spending, with Base accounting for the bulk of activity.