The XRP Ledger has processed more than 13 million AI-powered payments through the x402 protocol, according to RippleX engineering head J. Ayo Akinyele. The growing activity involves automated software agents paying for digital services using XRP and Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin.
In an October 10 update, Akinyele said the network had processed more than 13 million transactions across 166 registered x402 merchants. He also estimated that payments made by AI agents accounted for around 25% of XRP Ledger activity, although he did not explain the calculation behind that figure.
Data from the XRPL AI Hub later showed approximately 13.49 million transactions and 168 registered merchants. The figures suggest that activity continued to grow after the milestone was announced.
Summary
- The XRP Ledger surpassed 13 million AI-powered payments through the x402 protocol.
- The XRPL AI Hub recorded approximately 13.49 million transactions and 168 registered merchants.
- Former Ripple executive Chandler Fang expects more businesses to accept automated payments using XRP and RLUSD.
- Ripple introduced its AI Starter Kit in June to help developers build applications that make automated payments.
- High transaction counts do not necessarily mean high revenue, as many payments involve small amounts.
XRP Ledger AI payments surpass 13 million
AI-powered payments on the XRP Ledger have grown rapidly since July, when the network passed its first million transactions through x402.
The protocol allows software agents to pay automatically for digital services without requiring a person to approve every transaction.
Akinyele had previously predicted that the network could surpass 10 million automated payments. On October 10, he confirmed that the milestone had been reached and suggested that 100 million transactions could arrive sooner than expected.
That figure remains a prediction, not an official target with a confirmed deadline.
The XRPL AI Hub subsequently recorded approximately 13.49 million transactions involving 168 registered merchants. Its dashboard also showed cumulative settlements of roughly 6,982 XRP and 12,010 RLUSD around the time of the announcement.
The figures come from a payment index operated by t54 that tracks activity associated with its x402 infrastructure. The dashboard provides a view of transaction activity, but the numbers alone do not show how much revenue businesses earned from these payments.
The network reached its first million AI-powered payments on July 8, following the launch of the XRPL AI Hub by Ripple-backed t54.ai. The platform was introduced to help developers monitor transactions, discover services and access tools for building automated payment applications.
Former Ripple executive expects more businesses to accept XRP and RLUSD
Former Ripple product lead and t54 co-founder Chandler Fang expects more businesses to begin accepting automated cryptocurrency payments as the technology develops.
Fang pointed to the increase from around one million transactions in July to more than 13 million in October. He expects additional businesses to connect their products and services to the XRP Ledger, allowing AI agents to pay directly with XRP or RLUSD.
The x402 facilitator helps connect applications requesting paid services with blockchain payment infrastructure. When an AI agent requests access to a service, the system can identify the payment requirement, submit the transaction and verify settlement before providing access.
For example, an AI agent could pay for a data feed, access to an API or computing resources without going through a traditional checkout process.
The system supports both XRP and RLUSD. XRP can be used for payments directly on the network, while RLUSD offers a dollar-backed alternative for transactions that require a more stable value.
Fang has discussed the possibility of more real-world merchants adopting these tools, but the expansion will depend on businesses integrating the technology and accepting automated payments. No specific merchant partnerships or deadline for wider adoption were announced alongside the October 10 milestone.
Ripple expands its AI payment tools
The latest growth follows Ripple’s June 9 launch of the XRPL AI Starter Kit, which helps developers build applications that can send and receive payments automatically.
The toolkit includes capabilities for AI agents to create wallets, check balances, initiate transfers and retrieve transaction information. Developers can connect these functions to applications that perform routine payments within predefined limits.
Ripple has said the XRP Ledger typically settles transactions within three to five seconds, making it suitable for applications that need to process frequent, small payments.
The x402 protocol takes its name from the HTTP “402 Payment Required” response. A website or application can use this response to request payment before providing access to a service. An AI agent can then submit a signed transaction, which a facilitator verifies and sends to the blockchain.
This setup could allow software agents to pay for digital services as needed instead of relying on traditional subscriptions or manual checkout systems.
RLUSD is designed to maintain a value of one U.S. dollar and is backed by reserves. On the XRP Ledger, accounts must establish the required trust line before holding or receiving the stablecoin.
By supporting both XRP and RLUSD, the toolkit gives developers a choice between the network’s native cryptocurrency and a dollar-denominated payment option.
Can XRP Ledger reach 100 million AI payments?
Akinyele’s comments suggest that 100 million automated payments could become a future milestone for the network. However, Ripple and t54 have not announced a deadline for reaching that level.
Transaction counts alone do not show how much money is changing hands or whether the activity is generating meaningful commercial revenue. At the reported snapshot, more than 13 million transactions were associated with cumulative settlements of roughly 6,982 XRP and 12,010 RLUSD.
The available figures also do not establish how much activity came from independent businesses, repeated automated requests or experimental applications.
Earlier analysis of AI-powered payments on the XRP Ledger highlighted the difference between transaction volume and the fees generated by these transactions. In July, the network had processed approximately 1.4 million agentic payments, with estimated fees totaling around $280.
That example shows why a high number of transactions does not automatically translate into substantial revenue. Automated agents may make many small payments for individual digital services, with each transaction generating only a small fee.
Developers are also working on safeguards for AI agents that manage funds. These include wallet permissions, spending limits, transaction controls and payment authorization designed to reduce the risks associated with automated financial activity.
Meanwhile, t54’s open-source x402 implementation provides tools for monitoring validated payments, identifying participating merchants and tracking transaction records on the XRP Ledger.
The technology could make it easier for AI agents to purchase data, software access and computing services independently. But whether the growing transaction count turns into meaningful business adoption will depend on real merchants using the system and the value of the services being purchased.
