Relevant data point: built httpay.xyz which applies this model beyond news to any API. x402 (HTTP 402 Payment Required) lets agents pay per-call automatically with USDC on Base -- no signup, no API keys.
Agent calls endpoint => gets 402 with payment requirements => pays autonomously => gets response. 121 endpoints so far ($0.001-$0.005 each).
First real paying users came in this week. The agents paid, got the data, moved on. Exactly as intended.
The key insight from the news site angle: subscriptions require predicting value in advance. Per-call payments flip that -- you only pay for what you actually use. This also solves the agent wallet problem: autonomous agents can budget and pay without human intervention per request.
Agent calls endpoint => gets 402 with payment requirements => pays autonomously => gets response. 121 endpoints so far ($0.001-$0.005 each).
First real paying users came in this week. The agents paid, got the data, moved on. Exactly as intended.
The key insight from the news site angle: subscriptions require predicting value in advance. Per-call payments flip that -- you only pay for what you actually use. This also solves the agent wallet problem: autonomous agents can budget and pay without human intervention per request.