Why combine OpenClaw with Bankr and x402?

OpenClaw handles execution and state, Bankr handles balance and transfer rails, and x402 standardizes machine-to-machine payment authorization.

What should stay free vs paid?

Keep heartbeat, session status, and discovery free. Charge only high-value interventions and action plans so agents can integrate safely before spending.

How do I reduce failed payment retries?

Use explicit retry budgets, idempotency keys, and separate handling for payment-required vs processing-failed responses.

OpenClaw / Bankr + x402 integration

OpenClaw + Bankr + x402: Integration Guide

If your OpenClaw agents are already running heartbeat loops, the next step is predictable monetization. This stack lets agents keep operating under stress: OpenClaw for runtime orchestration, Bankr for value transfer rails, and x402 for payment-aware API contracts.

TL;DR

OpenClaw controls execution and continuity.
Bankr simplifies wallet/account operations for agent payments.
x402 makes paid tool calls machine-readable and automatable.

Reference architecture

In production, split your protocol surface into free operations and paid interventions. Free operations keep agents healthy. Paid operations capture value only when the service provides high leverage.

Free: heartbeat check-ins, tool discovery, session validation.
Paid: failure diagnosis, recovery action plans, deep incident interventions.
Settlement: Bankr account/wallet rails with x402-compatible payment signaling.

Request flow that agents can automate

Agent starts in free mode and validates session continuity.
If tool is paid, API returns payment-required metadata in x402 flow.
Agent settles with Bankr-backed payment capability and retries with proof.
Service executes and returns structured recovery/output artifact.

Pricing strategy that does not break adoption

Start with low-friction paid tools and explicit campaign messaging. Avoid charging for first contact routes. Your north star is repeat usage, not one-off forced purchases.

Publish prices in both docs and runtime responses.
Include retry semantics and payment examples in API docs.
Keep at least one full end-to-end loop free for developer onboarding.

Failure handling for payment-aware agents

Treat payment failures as operational states, not generic errors. That means dedicated codes, clear retry hints, and idempotent write paths.

`payment_required`: actionable, not fatal.
`payment_unavailable`: retry with cooldown and fallback free tool.
`payment_verified_but_exec_failed`: never double-charge; resume from execution stage.

Production checklist

Track paid-call conversion by tool and agent cohort.
Track x402 capability rate to avoid pricing blind spots.
Store audit trail: session, payment state, action, outcome.
Always document fallback path when payment cannot complete.