News Summary

Erik Reppel, head of engineering at Coinbase’s Developer Platform, discusses the x402 protocol on The BetaKit Podcast. The protocol aims to address what Marc Andreessen termed the ‘original sin’ of the internet: the inability to easily send money. Reppel envisions a future where AI, cryptocurrency, and open standards transform internet commerce. By eliminating payment middlemen like Stripe, x402 could enable sending and receiving money as quickly as loading a web page. The discussion also touches on the potential benefits and risks of integrating cryptocurrency and AI agents. This episode was recorded shortly after Coinbase announced a cyberattack that could cost up to $400 million, although the focus remains on new technologies finding product-market fit.