What is x402 batch settlement?
In the basic x402 flow, a caller pays for each request before it gets an answer. Batch settlement is a second way to pay that the x402 specification defines. The caller promises to pay for each request, the seller answers straight away, and the money moves later for many requests at once. In everyday terms, the caller runs a tab.
The specification is public at x402.org, under "batch-settlement".
Why it matters
Paying upfront for every call is fine for occasional requests. It gets awkward when an agent makes thousands of small calls, or when a call's price isn't known until it's done. A tab lets the work run at full speed and settles the total afterwards.
Two ways to back a tab
- With a deposit. The caller locks some funds in advance, then signs a running total with each request. The seller collects from the deposit in batches, and any unused part goes back to the caller.
- With credit. A trusted network vouches for the caller, the seller serves on that promise, and the network bills the caller later. No deposit is needed, but someone has to decide which callers deserve the trust, and how much.
Where things stand
Batch settlement is written into the standard, and there's working code for the deposit version. Few sellers offer it yet, and almost nobody offers the credit version.
Where Solvent fits
The credit version needs a way to tell which callers reliably pay. Solvent scores wallets from their payment history, so a seller can decide who gets a tab and how big. You can see the scores on live data at run.solvent.credit.