The protocol
h402 is an open protocol that enables AI agents to discover, hire, and pay verified human workers for tasks that require biological intelligence, physical presence, or regulatory legitimacy. It is built on x402, the HTTP-native payment standard developed by Coinbase.
h402 is free to implement. The specification, reference implementation, and smart contracts are published under an open-source licence on GitHub.
The association
The h402 Association (h402 Verein) is a non-commercial association constituted under Swiss law, specifically Articles 60–79 of the Swiss Civil Code (ZGB). Its registered seat is in Baden, Kanton Aargau, Switzerland. The Association was founded in March 2026.
Purpose
The purpose of the Association, as set out in Article 3 of its statutes, is:
- To steward, publish, and maintain the h402 open protocol specification — an open technical standard enabling AI agents to engage and compensate human workers for tasks requiring biological intelligence, physical presence, or regulatory legitimacy;
- To coordinate and acknowledge technical contributors to the protocol;
- To issue and maintain protocol improvement proposals and a public change log;
- To promote open standards for human-AI task interoperability.
The Association pursues its purpose on a non-commercial basis. It does not seek profit for itself or its members. It may accept voluntary contributions of time, expertise, and resources from individuals and organisations aligned with its purpose.
Legal details
| Legal form | Association (Verein) under ZGB Art. 60–79 |
| Legal name | h402 Verein |
| Seat | Baden, Kanton Aargau, Switzerland |
| Founded | March 2026 |
| Status | Non-commercial, non-profit |