- Cloudflare plans NET Dollar stablecoin to power instant, automated AI-driven transactions.
- NET Dollar enables creators, developers, and AI firms to monetize content and APIs.
- Partnerships with Coinbase and x402 aim to standardize payments for the agentic web.
Cloudflare, announced its plans to launch NET Dollar, a U.S. dollar-backed stablecoin designed for automated, instant, and secure payments across the AI-driven internet. The move aims to enable autonomous AI agents, developers, and creators to transact globally without human intervention, positioning stablecoins as a financial means for cross-border, condition-based transactions.
Stablecoin for AI-Native Transactions
Cloudflare said NET Dollar will function as a payment system supporting the emerging “agentic web,” where AI-powered agents carry out tasks such as booking flights, ordering groceries, or paying suppliers.
According to the company, this system requires money that is instant, secure, and globally accessible to support machine-to-machine transactions across regions and time zones. Matthew Prince, co-founder and CEO of Cloudflare, explained the change in models. He further added that the Internet’s next business model will be powered by pay-per-use, fractional payments, and microtransactions.
Prince noted that the company’s global infrastructure will be used to modernize financial models for an AI-driven internet economy.
The introduction of NET Dollar shows a wider movement where cloud infrastructure, artificial intelligence, and blockchain technology meet to support new business models. Unlike traditional ad-based structures, the system emphasizes direct, automated payments that can be triggered instantly by AI systems.
Features and Use Cases of NET Dollar
NET Dollar will be backed by U.S. dollar reserves, offering price stability while enabling programmatic transactions. Cloudflare outlined several key features of the stablecoin, including instant personal and business payments, transparent record keeping, and interoperability across currencies.
The company said personal agents could be programmed to pay for a flight at the lowest price or order goods when discounts appear. Business agents, by contrast, could automatically settle supplier invoices upon delivery confirmation. By making these processes automatic, NET Dollar aims to reduce reliance on manual payment approvals and banking delays.
Cloudflare added that the system would support new revenue models, enabling creators to be rewarded for original content, developers monetize APIs, and AI companies to fairly compensate data sources. This aligns with efforts to build an internet economy where value is redistributed directly to the market rather than concentrated within large platforms.
Collaboration and Industry Context
Cloudflare is also working with Coinbase and contributing to open standards such as the Agent Payments Protocol and x402. The x402 standard builds on the “payment required” HTTP status code to enable a uniform way for autonomous systems to initiate and confirm payments online. These collaborations aim to simplify the process of sending and receiving payments across the web, particularly for AI agents.
The launch of NET Dollar comes amid a surge of activity in the stablecoin sector. According to Citibank analysts in a report titled “Stablecoins 2030—Web3 to Wall Street,” issuance could reach between $1.9 trillion and $4 trillion by 2030, driven by institutional adoption and cross-border flows.
Other companies are also pursuing stablecoin projects. Bank of America recently confirmed plans for a U.S. dollar-pegged token, while Hyperliquid is preparing to issue its own. Tether has disclosed plans for a U.S. market-specific stablecoin named USAT, to be regulated under the GENIUS Act.
Related: Are Stablecoins Reshaping Global Monetary Policy?
Building Payment for Agentic Web
Cloudflare has operated as a global technology company for more than 15 years, delivering services to accelerate performance and protect websites and applications. With NET Dollar, the firm intends to extend this role into finance.
The company emphasized that building trusted and transparent systems is key for adoption, noting that agents require payments that are executed reliably across currencies and geographies. By contributing to open standards and partnering within the market, Cloudflare seeks to align NET Dollar with the broader growth of the internet economy.
Meanwhile, Cloudflare’s unveiling of NET Dollar indicates a broader trend of merging AI, blockchain, and cloud infrastructure to support autonomous payments. With features made for instant, global, and programmable use, the stablecoin aims to facilitate both personal and business transactions in an AI-native economy. The company’s partnerships and commitment to open standards suggest a push toward building financial ways that match the speed and automation of the internet.
