x402 Protocol Architecture

Algorand Settlement

Create with AI. Pay only when you create.

MicroCreate is designed for pay-per-use AI image generation through x402 on Algorand. Eliminating subscription lock-in and credit packs for both human creators and autonomous agents.

Zero monthly subscription

Sub-second Algorand finality

HTTP 402 native payment flow

How Pay-Per-Use AI Creation Works

Every generation request is an atomic exchange of micropayment for computational inference.

01Client Request

Request Image

Submit your prompt and aspect ratio to the MicroCreate API or web workspace. No upfront account balance or API key subscription required.

Step 01 in the workflow

02Protocol Settlement

x402 Payment Handshake

The server returns an HTTP 402 challenge specifying the exact USDC amount. Payment settles instantly on Algorand via the facilitator.

Step 02 in the workflow

03Inference & Result

Generate & Receive Proof

Once payment verification succeeds server-side, the AI provider generates your image and returns it alongside auditable on-chain proof.

Step 03 in the workflow

Built for Modern AI Consumption

Traditional SaaS billing models create friction for developers and occasional creators. MicroCreate solves this with protocol-level micropayments.

Granular Pay-Per-Use

Pay only for the single image you generate. No minimum spend thresholds, credit packages, or unused quotas.

Zero Subscription Commitment

Eliminate recurring monthly fees. MicroCreate is an on-demand utility available whenever inspiration or agent tasks arise.

Agent & Machine Native

Autonomous agents and programmatic workflows can negotiate payment at the HTTP transport layer without human intervention.

Auditable Settlement Proof

Every generation is cryptographically linked to an immutable on-chain Algorand transaction verifying full settlement.

Developer Interfacex402 Protocol v2

Integrate pay-per-use AI generation into any application.

Expose generative AI capabilities directly inside CLI tools, autonomous agent frameworks, or web applications with standard HTTP semantics and atomic Algorand USDC micropayments.

HTTP API SpecificationLive API v1

POST /api/v1/generate/image

bash

# Step 1: Initial request triggers HTTP 402 with PAYMENT-REQUIRED header
curl -i -X POST https://microcreate.io/api/v1/generate/image \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "prompt": "A futuristic architectural pavilion at sunset, cinematic lighting",
    "aspectRatio": "16:9"
  }'

# Step 2: Algorand wallet signs 10,000 base units (0.01 USDC) ASA transfer
# Step 3: Resubmit request with base64-encoded PAYMENT-SIGNATURE header
curl -X POST https://microcreate.io/api/v1/generate/image \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "PAYMENT-SIGNATURE: <base64_encoded_x402_signed_txn_group>" \
  -d '{
    "prompt": "A futuristic architectural pavilion at sunset, cinematic lighting",
    "aspectRatio": "16:9"
  }'

Protocol & Settlement Infrastructure

Clear technical responsibilities divide transport, settlement, asset management, and model execution.

x402 Protocol

Payment & Access Layer

HTTP-native protocol that defines machine-readable 402 challenge negotiation, payment proofs, and verification headers.

Algorand Blockchain

Settlement Network

Sub-4-second finality and micro-cent transaction fees enable high-frequency micropayments without latency bottlenecks.

USDC Stablecoin

Payment Asset

Denominates compute costs in stable USD terms, ensuring predictable pricing for creators and developers alike.

MicroCreate

Inference Service

Validates prompts, manages provider abstractions, and orchestrates model execution upon verified payment settlement.

Upcoming Capabilities & Roadmap

Planned creation features designed to expand the MicroCreate pay-per-use ecosystem.

Creative ToolingComing soon

Image Variations & Iteration

Generate stylistic variants and composition remixes from a single initial creation with incremental pay-per-use pricing.

EditingComing soon

Inpainting & Masked Editing

Selectively regenerate bounding boxes, backgrounds, or foreground elements without re-rendering the entire canvas.

QualityComing soon

High-Resolution Upscaling

Enhance visual fidelity and fine detail up to 4K resolution using dedicated super-resolution diffusion models.

ComputeComing soon

Batch Generation & Parallelism

Execute multi-prompt batches with a single consolidated x402 payment authorization across distributed inference workers.

DeveloperComing soon

Autonomous Agent Tooling & MCP

Standardized Model Context Protocol (MCP) server allowing LLM coding agents to generate image assets autonomously.