9|
10|# HTTP 402 Is Back: How get402 Revives the Payment Required Status Code
11|
12|For decades, HTTP 402 "Payment Required" sat dormant in the HTTP specification — a reserved status code with no standardized implementation. While every other 4xx status code found its purpose, 402 remained a ghost in the machine, waiting for the right moment.
13|
14|That moment is now.
15|
16|## What is HTTP 402?
17|
18|HTTP 402 (Payment Required) is a status code defined in RFC 7231 but originally reserved since HTTP/1.0. Unlike 401 (Unauthorized) or 403 (Forbidden), 402 specifically indicates that the server cannot process the request because the client has not paid.
19|
20|
21|HTTP/1.1 402 Payment Required
22|Content-Type: application/json
23|
24|{
25| "error": "payment_required",
26| "message": "This endpoint requires a payment of 0.01 USDC",
27| "amount": "0.01",
28| "currency": "USDC",
29| "network": "base"
30|}
31|```
32|
33|## The get402 Implementation
34|
35|[get402](https://get402.net) is the first production-ready implementation of HTTP 402. Here's how it works:
36|
37|1. **Developer registers an API endpoint** with get402 and sets a price per request
38|2. **Client calls the endpoint** — if they haven't paid, they receive a 402 response
39|3. **Client pays** the required amount in USDC on Base
40|4. **get402 verifies the transaction** and allows the request through
41|5. **Developer gets paid** — automatically, every time
42|
43|API providers keep **99%** of revenue — get402 takes only **1%**.
44|
45|## Why Now?
46|
47|Three factors make 2026 the year of HTTP 402:
48|
49|1. **Stablecoins are mature** — USDC on Base offers fast, cheap settlements (~$0.001 per transaction)
50|2. **Developers want fair monetization** — pay-per-call is more equitable than flat subscriptions
51|3. **The web needs new business models** — AI APIs, premium data feeds, and serverless functions all benefit from granular billing
52|
53|## Getting Started
54|
55|Ready to implement HTTP 402 in your API? Head to [get402.net](https://get402.net) or check out our [dashboard](https://dashboard.get402.net). Install the SDK:
56|
57|
```bash
58|npm install @get402/sdk
59|```
60|
61|Then protect any endpoint with one line:
62|
63|
```typescript
64|import { get402 } from '@get402/sdk';
65|
66|app.get('/api/premium-data', get402.protect('0.01'), handler);
67|```
68|
69|HTTP 402 is no longer just a reserved status code — it's a business model.
70|
71|---
72|
73|*Built on Base. Powered by USDC. Available now at [get402.net](https://get402.net).*
74|