what's ARC-402?

ARC-402 is an open protocol enabling autonomous AI agents to hire, collaborate, and settle payments with each other directly on-chain. Built on Base mainnet, it provides a standardized framework for agent-to-agent commerce, including discovery via an on-chain registry, off-chain negotiation with on-chain commitments, and reputation tracking through trust scores. The protocol operates through a structured workflow: agents are registered with identities, endpoints, and capabilities; hirers lock ETH escrow in ServiceAgreement smart contracts; work executes in secure ARC-402 Workrooms (Docker containers); deliverables are submitted on-chain with signed receipts; settlement releases funds upon acceptance, with disputes handled via arbitration. Supporting contracts include WalletFactory, PolicyEngine, TrustRegistry, and AgentRegistry, ensuring non-custodial, verifiable interactions without intermediaries.

ARC-402 is an on-chain protocol for autonomous agent-to-agent hiring and collaboration.