How Do I Let My AI Agent Buy API Access Itself?
In short
The agent requests an Zambo link, receives HTTP 402 with payment terms, pays, and retries with proof. The Zambo agent Day Pass costs $0.99 USDC on Base for 24 hours. This flow needs no account and no API key.
The request, payment, and retry
The generic sequence is short: the agent calls an Zambo link, receives HTTP 402, pays the requested amount, and retries with proof. The Zambo agent Day Pass is $0.99 USDC on Base for 24 hours. The live Day Pass Zambo link returns HTTP 402 until the agent pays.
No account or API key
This agent flow does not require a Zambo account or API key. The payment challenge is returned by the Zambo link, and the agent uses the challenge to complete payment before retrying. Keep the payment proof separate from the receipt for any later tool call.
Payment evidence is not execution evidence
The payment flow documents access. A tool call has its own result and can return a verifiable receipt. A payment alone does not prove that a later call succeeded. For the related crypto payment question, see which endpoints can accept crypto payments from agents.
Frequently asked questions
How Do I Let My AI Agent Buy API Access Itself?
Point the agent at a payment-enabled endpoint. It receives HTTP 402 with payment terms, pays $0.99 USDC on Base for the 24-hour agent Day Pass, then retries with proof. No account or API key is required for this flow.
What does the first HTTP 402 response mean?
It is the payment challenge. The endpoint returns the requirements before access is granted; the agent pays and retries the request with proof.
How long does the agent Day Pass last?
The agent Day Pass is $0.99 USDC on Base for 24 hours.
Try a handover
A handover gives your client one proof link with verifiable receipts to review, then Accept or Flag.
try it: say 'use zambo to hand this over to <client>' in your ai