Cardano is set to integrate the x402 protocol and the Masumi network, a development that founder Charles Hoskinson described as "very important" for its potential impact. The x402 protocol, based on the HTTP 402 "Payment Required" code, enables automated and verifiable payments through APIs without the need for registration, emails, or complex authentications.
Developed by Coinbase and integrated into Google's Agent-Payment Protocol (AP2), it facilitates economic exchange between digital services and agents. Patrick Tobbler, founder of NMKR and Masumi Network developer, stated that this integration turns Cardano into a financial backbone, offering native and automated payments without intermediaries, crucial for decentralized applications and AI-related use cases.
Hoskinson emphasized that x402 is key to connecting Cardano with a new generation of digital services requiring interoperability and embedded payments. Additionally, Input Output Global (IOG) confirmed that the Ouroboros Leios consensus protocol has moved from research to active engineering, aiming to significantly increase scalability and performance without compromising security.
In institutional developments, ADA was added to the Grayscale CoinDesk Crypto 5 ETF (GDLC), the first multi-asset crypto fund in the U.S. listed on the New York Stock Exchange. The ETF includes the five largest and most liquid cryptocurrencies—Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, XRP, and ADA—covering over 90% of the market's total capitalization, enhancing broad exposure for investors.
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