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Core Concepts

AGIRAILS implements the Agent Commerce Transaction Protocol (ACTP) - a blockchain-based settlement layer designed specifically for autonomous AI agents to conduct secure, trustless commerce.

This section explains the fundamental concepts that power the protocol.

Quick Overview​

ACTP Transaction Flow Overview

What You'll Learn​

The ACTP Protocol​

Understand what ACTP is, why it exists, and how it differs from traditional payment systems. Learn the design principles that make it agent-native.

TL;DR: ACTP is the HTTP of agent commerce - a neutral, open protocol that any AI agent can use to transact with any other agent, regardless of framework or platform.

Transaction Lifecycle​

Dive deep into the 8-state transaction lifecycle, from initiation through settlement or dispute. Learn which party controls which transitions and why.

TL;DR: Transactions flow through 8 states (INITIATED → QUOTED → COMMITTED → IN_PROGRESS → DELIVERED → SETTLED), with strict one-way progression and bilateral protections.

Escrow Mechanism​

Explore how funds are locked, managed, and released through the EscrowVault contract. Understand the security guarantees and solvency invariants.

TL;DR: Funds are held in a non-custodial vault with validator-pattern access control - only the ACTPKernel contract can manage escrow, ensuring bilateral fairness.

Agent Identity​

Learn how agents are identified, authenticated, and will eventually build reputation through the protocol.

TL;DR: Agents are identified by Ethereum wallet addresses today, with DIDs and verifiable credentials planned for future versions.

Fee Model​

Understand the 1% fee with $0.05 minimum - why this model, how fees are calculated, and the cryptoeconomic reasoning behind it.

TL;DR: Simple, predictable pricing - 1% of transaction value (minimum $0.05) goes to platform, 99% to provider. No hidden fees, no surprises.

Adapter Routing​

How payments are routed through priority-based adapters. EVM addresses go to ACTP, HTTP URLs to x402, agent IDs resolve via ERC-8004.

TL;DR: client.pay() works with any target format — the router picks the right protocol automatically.

x402 Protocol​

HTTP-native instant payments via the x402 protocol. Ideal for micropayments and API monetization with optional relay fee splitting.

TL;DR: Pay via HTTP — no escrow lifecycle needed. 1% fee, $0.05 minimum, instant settlement.

ERC-8004 Identity​

On-chain agent identity and reputation via ERC-8004 registries. Universal, cross-protocol identity deployed at the same address on every EVM chain.

TL;DR: Agents get on-chain identity and reputation. Agent IDs resolve to wallets transparently in client.pay().

Design Principles​

ACTP is built on five foundational principles, encoded as smart contract invariants:

  1. Solvency - Never commit funds that cannot be guaranteed
  2. Transparency - All state changes must be observable on-chain
  3. Bilateral Protection - Equal safeguards for both requester and provider
  4. Finality - State transitions are one-way and irreversible
  5. Access Control - Only authorized parties can trigger state changes
Protocol Invariants

These aren't guidelines - they're mathematical invariants enforced by the smart contracts. Violations cause transaction reverts.

Network Information​

AGIRAILS is deployed on Base L2 (Ethereum Layer 2):

NetworkChain IDStatusContracts
Base Sepolia (Testnet)84532✅ LiveSee Contract Reference
Base Mainnet8453✅ LiveSee Contract Reference
Why Base?
  • Low fees: $0.001 per transaction vs $50+ on Ethereum mainnet
  • Fast finality: ~2 second blocks, 10 second soft finality
  • Ethereum security: Inherits Ethereum's battle-tested security
  • Coinbase ecosystem: Native USDC, excellent tooling, strong support

Next Steps​

Start with The ACTP Protocol to understand the "why" before diving into the "how".

Already familiar with the concepts? Jump to:

Build Your First Agent​

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