{
  "schema": "insimbi.usecase-video.flow/1",
  "slug": "agent-api-payments",
  "title": "An agent paying for API calls, one request at a time",
  "use_case_number": 2,
  "use_case_count": 8,
  "source": {
    "repo": "iridium-payments/insimbi",
    "path": "web/insimbi-net/site/use-cases/agent-api-payments.md",
    "url": "https://insimbi.net/use-cases/agent-api-payments/"
  },
  "cohorts": [
    {
      "symbol": "Mm",
      "name": "Machine & agentic"
    },
    {
      "symbol": "Sc",
      "name": "Stablecoins"
    }
  ],
  "video": {
    "file": "agent-api-payments.mp4",
    "captions": "agent-api-payments.vtt",
    "poster": "agent-api-payments.poster.png",
    "width": 1920,
    "height": 1080,
    "fps": 30,
    "codec": "h264",
    "duration_s": 36,
    "segments": {
      "intro": [
        0,
        1.6
      ],
      "handoff": [
        20,
        20.6
      ],
      "end_card": [
        31.8,
        36
      ]
    }
  },
  "api_host": "sandbox.api.insimbi.xyz",
  "notes": [
    "Illustrative scenario: a fictional type of business, not a customer. No results are claimed.",
    "Only GET /health, /oauth2/token and the account reads are in the OpenAPI contract. POST /v1/payments, captures, tickets, cutoffs preview and webhooks are designed endpoints (insimbi.net/docs/api); paths and fields can change.",
    "Event names are limited to those published on insimbi.net (authorization.allowed, approval.proposed, approval.approved, payment.captured). Other steps have event: null; their result is a line on the record. The Record step carries its own on-screen status, recorded (console.status), not an event.",
    "x402 fields follow x402 v2 as summarised in docs/partners (PAYMENT-REQUIRED, PAYMENT-SIGNATURE, PAYMENT-RESPONSE; /verify, /settle). Network and asset are placeholders.",
    "Amounts are illustrative only. Fee amounts are placeholders.",
    "console.clock is an illustrative wall clock (06:49:00.000 at t=0), not real time."
  ],
  "steps": [
    {
      "n": 1,
      "id": "h1",
      "lane": "human",
      "element": {
        "number": "01",
        "symbol": "Fi",
        "name": "Fiat · cards"
      },
      "tile_symbol": "Br",
      "name": "Browse",
      "actor": "developer",
      "action": "Developer reads pricing",
      "checks": "developer",
      "approves": null,
      "records": null,
      "endpoint": "GET api.example-data.com/pricing (provider)",
      "event": null,
      "caption": "A developer browses the API's per-call pricing. Nothing has moved yet.",
      "console": {
        "clock": "06:49:02.050",
        "t": 2.05,
        "status": "seen",
        "text": "GET api.example-data.com/pricing",
        "checked": "developer",
        "approved": "—",
        "detail": [
          "GET /pricing"
        ]
      },
      "t_start": 1.6,
      "t_end": 4,
      "timecode_start": "00:00:01.600",
      "timecode_end": "00:00:04.000",
      "wire": "# merchant app: nothing has moved yet\nGET /pricing\n{ \"endpoint\": \"/v1/quotes\", \"amount\": \"0.02\",\n  \"currency\": \"USD\", \"pay_by\": [\"card\", \"stablecoin\"] }"
    },
    {
      "n": 2,
      "id": "a1",
      "lane": "agent",
      "element": {
        "number": "05",
        "symbol": "Mm",
        "name": "Machine & agentic"
      },
      "tile_symbol": "In",
      "name": "Intent",
      "actor": "AI agent",
      "action": "Agent needs data now",
      "checks": "agent",
      "approves": null,
      "records": null,
      "endpoint": "MCP tools/call quote_ticket",
      "event": null,
      "caption": "An agent needs data now. It prices one call first. Nothing is submitted.",
      "console": {
        "clock": "06:49:04.450",
        "t": 4.45,
        "status": "seen",
        "text": "tools/call quote_ticket",
        "checked": "agent",
        "approved": "—",
        "detail": [
          "← { \"perimeter\": \"per_01J9@3\", \"decision\": \"allow\" … }"
        ]
      },
      "t_start": 4,
      "t_end": 6.8,
      "timecode_start": "00:00:04.000",
      "timecode_end": "00:00:06.800",
      "wire": "tools/call quote_ticket  # MCP, submits nothing\n{ \"amount\": \"0.02\", \"currency\": \"USD\",\n  \"payee\": \"api.example-data.com\" }\n← { \"perimeter\": \"per_01J9@3\", \"decision\": \"allow\",\n    \"lines\": [{ \"label\": \"network\", \"amount\": \"<fee>\" }] }"
    },
    {
      "n": 3,
      "id": "h2",
      "lane": "human",
      "element": {
        "number": "01",
        "symbol": "Fi",
        "name": "Fiat · cards"
      },
      "tile_symbol": "Pa",
      "name": "Pay",
      "actor": "developer → provider",
      "action": "Card on file, batched",
      "checks": "insimbi API (token)",
      "approves": null,
      "records": "insimbi audit record",
      "endpoint": "POST sandbox.api.insimbi.xyz/v1/payments",
      "event": "authorization.allowed",
      "caption": "The developer puts a card on file; small calls batch onto it. Access decision recorded.",
      "console": {
        "clock": "06:49:07.250",
        "t": 7.25,
        "status": "allowed",
        "text": "authorization.allowed",
        "checked": "insimbi API",
        "approved": "—",
        "detail": [
          "POST /v1/payments"
        ]
      },
      "t_start": 6.8,
      "t_end": 9.2,
      "timecode_start": "00:00:06.800",
      "timecode_end": "00:00:09.200",
      "wire": "POST /v1/payments\nIdempotency-Key: idem_7c1e\n{ \"amount\": \"0.02\", \"currency\": \"USD\",\n  \"payment_method\": \"card\", \"batching\": \"daily\",\n  \"customer\": \"cus_dev_12\" }\n# recorded: authorization.allowed"
    },
    {
      "n": 4,
      "id": "a2",
      "lane": "agent",
      "element": {
        "number": "05",
        "symbol": "Mm",
        "name": "Machine & agentic"
      },
      "tile_symbol": "Pc",
      "name": "Policy check",
      "actor": "insimbi rules + mandate",
      "action": "Mandate: principal, limit, scope",
      "checks": "insimbi mandate check",
      "approves": null,
      "records": "insimbi record",
      "endpoint": "POST sandbox.api.insimbi.xyz/v1/payments (perimeter check)",
      "event": "authorization.allowed",
      "caption": "insimbi checks the agent's mandate: principal, spend limit and scope. Recorded.",
      "console": {
        "clock": "06:49:09.650",
        "t": 9.65,
        "status": "allowed",
        "text": "authorization.allowed",
        "checked": "mandate check",
        "approved": "—",
        "detail": [
          "← { \"perimeter\": \"per_01J9@3\", \"decision\": \"allow\" }"
        ]
      },
      "t_start": 9.2,
      "t_end": 12,
      "timecode_start": "00:00:09.200",
      "timecode_end": "00:00:12.000",
      "wire": "# rules + mandate check, before any network\n{ \"principal\": \"org:buyer_co\",\n  \"scope\": \"api.example-data.com /v1/quotes\",\n  \"cap\": \"<daily limit>\" }\n← { \"perimeter\": \"per_01J9@3\", \"decision\": \"allow\" }\n# recorded: authorization.allowed"
    },
    {
      "n": 5,
      "id": "a3",
      "lane": "agent",
      "element": {
        "number": "02",
        "symbol": "Sc",
        "name": "Stablecoins"
      },
      "tile_symbol": "Px",
      "name": "Pay request",
      "actor": "provider API → agent",
      "action": "HTTP 402, pay and retry",
      "checks": "agent wallet",
      "approves": null,
      "records": null,
      "endpoint": "402 PAYMENT-REQUIRED → PAYMENT-SIGNATURE",
      "event": null,
      "caption": "The API answers an unpaid request with 402 and a price. The agent pays and retries.",
      "console": {
        "clock": "06:49:12.450",
        "t": 12.45,
        "status": "seen",
        "text": "402 PAYMENT-REQUIRED",
        "checked": "agent wallet",
        "approved": "—",
        "detail": [
          "PAYMENT-REQUIRED { \"amount\": \"0.02\", \"payTo\": \"api.example-data.com\" }"
        ]
      },
      "t_start": 12,
      "t_end": 14.8,
      "timecode_start": "00:00:12.000",
      "timecode_end": "00:00:14.800",
      "wire": "HTTP/1.1 402 Payment Required  # GET /v1/quotes\nPAYMENT-REQUIRED (decoded): { \"x402Version\": 2,\n  \"accepts\": [{ \"scheme\": \"exact\", \"amount\": \"0.02\",\n  \"asset\": \"<usd-stablecoin>\", \"network\": \"<caip2>\",\n  \"payTo\": \"api.example-data.com\" }] }\n→ retry with PAYMENT-SIGNATURE: <signed payload>"
    },
    {
      "n": 6,
      "id": "h3",
      "lane": "human",
      "element": {
        "number": "01",
        "symbol": "Fi",
        "name": "Fiat · cards"
      },
      "tile_symbol": "Ap",
      "name": "Approve",
      "actor": "developer + card issuer",
      "action": "Developer confirms the card",
      "checks": "card issuer",
      "approves": "developer",
      "records": "insimbi record",
      "endpoint": "challenge (3-D Secure)",
      "event": null,
      "caption": "The issuer challenges and the developer approves. Recorded.",
      "console": {
        "clock": "06:49:15.250",
        "t": 15.25,
        "status": "on record",
        "text": "3-D Secure challenge",
        "checked": "card issuer",
        "approved": "developer",
        "detail": []
      },
      "t_start": 14.8,
      "t_end": 17.2,
      "timecode_start": "00:00:14.800",
      "timecode_end": "00:00:17.200",
      "wire": "# rail result: challenge such as 3-D Secure\n{ \"customer\": \"cus_dev_12\", \"challenge\": \"3ds\",\n  \"result\": \"passed\", \"approved_by\": \"developer\" }"
    },
    {
      "n": 7,
      "id": "a4",
      "lane": "agent",
      "element": {
        "number": "05",
        "symbol": "Mm",
        "name": "Machine & agentic"
      },
      "tile_symbol": "Ap",
      "name": "Approval",
      "actor": "mandate (set by its principal)",
      "action": "Inside the mandate",
      "checks": "insimbi mandate check",
      "approves": "principal, in advance",
      "records": "insimbi record",
      "endpoint": "perimeter decision",
      "event": "authorization.allowed",
      "caption": "The call is inside the mandate its principal approved. Allowed and recorded.",
      "console": {
        "clock": "06:49:17.650",
        "t": 17.65,
        "status": "allowed",
        "text": "authorization.allowed",
        "checked": "mandate check",
        "approved": "via mandate",
        "detail": []
      },
      "t_start": 17.2,
      "t_end": 20,
      "timecode_start": "00:00:17.200",
      "timecode_end": "00:00:20.000",
      "wire": "# inside the mandate: no new approval needed\n{ \"type\": \"authorization.allowed\",\n  \"subject\": \"call GET /v1/quotes\", \"decision\": \"allow\" }"
    },
    {
      "n": 8,
      "id": "i1",
      "lane": "insimbi",
      "element": {
        "number": "26",
        "symbol": "Fe",
        "name": "insimbi"
      },
      "tile_symbol": "Tx",
      "name": "Transaction",
      "actor": "insimbi rules",
      "action": "Price, mandate, payer known",
      "checks": "rules + mandate",
      "approves": null,
      "records": "insimbi record",
      "endpoint": "POST /v1/payments → rules",
      "event": "authorization.allowed",
      "caption": "Person or agent, insimbi applies the same rules and keeps one record.",
      "console": {
        "clock": "06:49:21.050",
        "t": 21.05,
        "status": "allowed",
        "text": "authorization.allowed",
        "checked": "rules, mandate",
        "approved": "—",
        "detail": []
      },
      "t_start": 20.6,
      "t_end": 23.4,
      "timecode_start": "00:00:20.600",
      "timecode_end": "00:00:23.400",
      "wire": "# your rules shape the transaction\n{ \"calls\": [\"cus_dev_12 (card)\", \"a_77 (stablecoin)\"],\n  \"price\": \"0.02 USD (illustrative)\",\n  \"spend_guard\": \"within cap\",\n  \"rule\": \"rule:spend.per_request@v1\" }\n# recorded: authorization.allowed"
    },
    {
      "n": 9,
      "id": "i2",
      "lane": "insimbi",
      "element": {
        "number": "02",
        "symbol": "Sc",
        "name": "Stablecoins"
      },
      "tile_symbol": "Ra",
      "name": "Rail",
      "actor": "insimbi rail rule",
      "action": "Stablecoin, or batch to card",
      "checks": "facilitator verify",
      "approves": null,
      "records": "insimbi record",
      "endpoint": "POST /verify (regulated partner)",
      "event": null,
      "caption": "Small payments settle in a dollar stablecoin via a regulated partner, or batch to card.",
      "console": {
        "clock": "06:49:23.850",
        "t": 23.85,
        "status": "on record",
        "text": "POST /verify",
        "checked": "partner verify",
        "approved": "—",
        "detail": [
          "← { \"isValid\": true, \"payer\": \"agent:a_77\" }"
        ]
      },
      "t_start": 23.4,
      "t_end": 26.2,
      "timecode_start": "00:00:23.400",
      "timecode_end": "00:00:26.200",
      "wire": "POST /verify  # facilitator, regulated partner\n{ \"x402Version\": 2, \"paymentPayload\": \"<signed>\",\n  \"paymentRequirements\": \"<from 402>\" }\n← { \"isValid\": true, \"payer\": \"agent:a_77\" }"
    },
    {
      "n": 10,
      "id": "i3",
      "lane": "insimbi",
      "element": {
        "number": "02",
        "symbol": "Sc",
        "name": "Stablecoins"
      },
      "tile_symbol": "Se",
      "name": "Settle",
      "actor": "regulated partner",
      "action": "Settled, resource returned",
      "checks": "regulated partner",
      "approves": null,
      "records": "insimbi record",
      "endpoint": "POST /settle → PAYMENT-RESPONSE",
      "event": null,
      "caption": "The API does the work, insimbi settles, and the agent gets the resource back.",
      "console": {
        "clock": "06:49:26.650",
        "t": 26.65,
        "status": "on record",
        "text": "POST /settle → PAYMENT-RESPONSE",
        "checked": "partner",
        "approved": "—",
        "detail": [
          "← { \"success\": true, \"transaction\": \"<tx-ref>\" … }"
        ]
      },
      "t_start": 26.2,
      "t_end": 29,
      "timecode_start": "00:00:26.200",
      "timecode_end": "00:00:29.000",
      "wire": "POST /settle  # regulated partner\n← { \"success\": true, \"transaction\": \"<tx-ref>\",\n    \"network\": \"<caip2>\" }\n→ 200 to agent with PAYMENT-RESPONSE: <base64 JSON>"
    },
    {
      "n": 11,
      "id": "i4",
      "lane": "insimbi",
      "element": {
        "number": "26",
        "symbol": "Fe",
        "name": "insimbi"
      },
      "tile_symbol": "Re",
      "name": "Record",
      "actor": "insimbi record",
      "action": "Call, price, mandate: one line",
      "checks": "reconciliation",
      "approves": "developer, via mandate",
      "records": "insimbi record",
      "endpoint": "GET sandbox.api.insimbi.xyz/v1/tickets/tkt_01J9",
      "event": null,
      "caption": "Each call, its price and the mandate that allowed it land in one line both sides see.",
      "console": {
        "clock": "06:49:29.450",
        "t": 29.45,
        "status": "recorded",
        "text": "GET /v1/tickets/tkt_01J9",
        "checked": "reconciled",
        "approved": "developer, via mandate",
        "detail": [
          "← 200 { \"ticket_id\": \"tkt_01J9\", \"lines\":  … }"
        ]
      },
      "t_start": 29,
      "t_end": 31.8,
      "timecode_start": "00:00:29.000",
      "timecode_end": "00:00:31.800",
      "wire": "GET /v1/tickets/tkt_01J9\n← 200 { \"ticket_id\": \"tkt_01J9\", \"lines\": [\n  { \"label\": \"authorization\", \"amount\": \"<gross>\" },\n  { \"label\": \"network\", \"rule\": \"rule:fee.stablecoin@v1\" },\n  { \"label\": \"insimbi\", \"rule\": \"rule:fee.insimbi@v1\" } ],\n  \"call\": \"GET /v1/quotes\", \"mandate\": \"per_01J9@3\",\n  \"settlement\": \"<tx-ref>\" }\n→ webhook { \"type\": \"payment.captured\" }"
    }
  ]
}