diff --git a/COMPARISON.md b/COMPARISON.md index 1451a8d..a301a54 100644 --- a/COMPARISON.md +++ b/COMPARISON.md @@ -1,22 +1,54 @@ -# OpenCash vs AgentCash — Comparison +# OpenCash vs AgentCash vs PayAI Network — Comparison + +These three projects occupy **different layers** of the x402 ecosystem: + +- **OpenCash** — Self-hosted API proxy (merchant/operator layer) +- **AgentCash** — Managed API aggregation (client/agent layer) +- **PayAI Network** — Payment facilitator + AI marketplace (settlement layer) + +They are complementary, not strictly competitive. OpenCash could use PayAI as its facilitator. An agent using AgentCash could pay an OpenCash-powered merchant. + +--- ## Overview -| | **OpenCash** | **AgentCash** | -|---|---|---| -| **What** | Self-hosted x402 API proxy | Managed x402 API aggregation layer | -| **Built by** | Conejo Capital (open source) | Merit Systems (closed source) | -| **Model** | Operator runs their own proxy | SaaS — Merit Systems runs everything | -| **License** | MIT | No declared license | -| **Chain** | Solana | Base (Ethereum L2) | -| **Tokens** | USDC + PYUSD | USDC only | -| **API source** | Any upstream API you configure | ~136 curated endpoints across 6 origins | +| | **OpenCash** | **AgentCash** | **PayAI Network** | +|---|---|---|---| +| **What** | Self-hosted x402 API proxy | Managed x402 API aggregation | x402 facilitator + AI marketplace | +| **Layer** | Merchant/operator | Client/agent | Settlement infrastructure | +| **Built by** | Conejo Capital | Merit Systems | Anonymous team | +| **Model** | Operator runs their own proxy | SaaS — Merit Systems runs everything | Facilitator-as-a-service + P2P marketplace | +| **License** | MIT | No declared license | Open source (MIT on plugins) | +| **Primary chain** | Solana | Base (Ethereum L2) | 16 chains (Solana, Base, Polygon, Avalanche, Sei, etc.) | +| **Tokens** | USDC + PYUSD | USDC only | USDC + PAYAI token | +| **API source** | Any upstream API you configure | ~136 curated endpoints across 6 origins | Not an API proxy — settles payments for any x402 merchant | + +--- + +## How They Fit Together + +``` +┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ +│ x402 Ecosystem │ +│ │ +│ ┌──────────┐ ┌──────────────┐ ┌─────────────┐ │ +│ │ Agent │────▶│ Merchant │────▶│ Facilitator │ │ +│ │ (buyer) │ │ (API proxy) │ │ (settlement)│ │ +│ └──────────┘ └──────────────┘ └─────────────┘ │ +│ │ +│ AgentCash OpenCash PayAI Network │ +│ (client SDK) (server proxy) (payment rail) │ +│ │ +│ Agent discovers → Agent pays → Facilitator settles │ +│ & calls APIs via x402 on-chain │ +└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ +``` --- ## Architecture -### OpenCash +### OpenCash — Merchant Layer ``` Agent → OpenCash proxy (self-hosted) → Upstream API (OpenAI, Gemini, etc.) ↓ @@ -28,7 +60,7 @@ Agent → OpenCash proxy (self-hosted) → Upstream API (OpenAI, Gemini, etc.) - **Built-in facilitator**: Verifies and settles payments locally (no external dependency) - **Pass-through proxy**: Forwards request bodies to upstream, injects your credentials -### AgentCash +### AgentCash — Client Layer ``` Agent → AgentCash MCP server (local) → Stable* origins (Merit Systems) → Underlying API ↓ @@ -40,6 +72,18 @@ Agent → AgentCash MCP server (local) → Stable* origins (Merit Systems) → U - **External facilitator**: Payment verification handled by the origin servers - **Two-step for some APIs**: Async pattern (pay → poll) for social media and media generation +### PayAI Network — Settlement Layer +``` +Agent → Any x402 Merchant → PayAI Facilitator → On-chain settlement + ↓ + Covers gas fees, verifies tx, confirms +``` + +- **Facilitator role**: Validates signed transactions, submits on-chain, confirms settlement +- **Gasless**: PayAI covers all blockchain transaction fees for both buyer and merchant +- **Multi-chain**: Settles on Solana, Base, Polygon, Avalanche, Sei, and 11 more networks +- **AI Marketplace**: Separate product — P2P agent-to-agent commerce via ElizaOS + libp2p + --- ## Supported APIs @@ -67,19 +111,29 @@ Add any API with an HTTP endpoint. Example config supports: **Adding a new API**: Not possible — only Merit Systems can add origins. +### PayAI Network — Not an API Proxy +PayAI doesn't proxy APIs. It provides: +- **x402 Facilitator**: Settlement service for any x402 merchant +- **Echo Merchant**: Free test endpoint with instant refunds +- **AI Marketplace**: P2P agent service discovery and escrow contracts +- **MCPay**: Monetize MCP servers with x402 paywalls + +**Relationship to OpenCash**: PayAI could be used as OpenCash's facilitator by setting `FACILITATOR_URL=https://facilitator.payai.network`. This would give OpenCash multi-chain settlement and gasless transactions. + --- ## Payment & Settlement -| | **OpenCash** | **AgentCash** | -|---|---|---| -| **Chain** | Solana (mainnet-beta) | Base (EIP-155:8453) | -| **Token** | USDC (SPL) + PYUSD (Token-2022) | USDC only | -| **Protocol** | x402 v1/v2 | x402 v2 + SIWX | -| **Facilitator** | Built-in (self-hosted) or external | Origin-hosted | -| **Settlement** | On-chain, real-time | On-chain, real-time | -| **Fee payer** | Operator's wallet | Origin's wallet | -| **Wallet** | Any Solana wallet (agent brings their own) | Auto-created EVM wallet (~/.agentcash/wallet.json) | +| | **OpenCash** | **AgentCash** | **PayAI Network** | +|---|---|---|---| +| **Chain** | Solana | Base | 16 chains (Solana, Base, Polygon, Avalanche, Sei, etc.) | +| **Token** | USDC (SPL) + PYUSD (Token-2022) | USDC only | USDC (all chains) + custom tokens via Token Gateway | +| **Protocol** | x402 v1/v2 | x402 v2 + SIWX | x402 v1/v2 | +| **Facilitator** | Built-in or external | Origin-hosted | PayAI IS the facilitator | +| **Settlement** | On-chain, real-time | On-chain, real-time | On-chain, < 1 second | +| **Gas fees** | Operator pays | Origin pays | PayAI covers all gas (gasless) | +| **Fee payer** | Operator's wallet | Origin's wallet | PayAI's wallet | +| **Wallet** | Any Solana wallet | Auto-created EVM wallet | Any wallet on supported chains | --- @@ -97,6 +151,13 @@ Add any API with an HTTP endpoint. Example config supports: - Markup is opaque — underlying API costs are not disclosed - Range: $0.001 (message listing) to $12.50 (Sora 2 Pro video) +### PayAI Network +- **Facilitator fee**: First 1,000 settlements free, then $0.001/settlement +- **No API keys required** for any tier +- **Zero gas fees** for merchants and buyers +- 99.9% payment success rate +- Rate limit: 4 RPS, 480 burst/min (free and pay-as-you-go tiers) + --- ## Developer Experience @@ -117,7 +178,6 @@ curl http://localhost:4020/v1/discover - Express.js server, TypeScript - Docker + docker-compose for deployment - CI/CD with GitHub Actions -- Config hot-reload: restart to pick up changes ### AgentCash ```bash @@ -131,7 +191,32 @@ npx -y agentcash@latest - MCP server, integrates directly with AI IDEs - No self-hosting required - Auto-wallet creation with onboarding bonus ($25) -- Works out of the box for supported APIs + +### PayAI Network +```bash +# As a merchant — point your x402 middleware at PayAI +FACILITATOR_URL=https://facilitator.payai.network npm run dev + +# As an agent — use the MCP server +# npx payai-mcp-server +``` + +- npm packages: `@payai/x402`, `@payai/facilitator`, `@payai/x402-solana-react` +- Echo merchant for testing with instant refunds +- ElizaOS plugin for AI agent marketplace +- Merchant portal at merchant.payai.network + +--- + +## Open Source Status + +| | **OpenCash** | **AgentCash** | **PayAI Network** | +|---|---|---|---| +| **Server/core** | MIT | No license declared | Open (MIT on plugins) | +| **API backends** | N/A (operator's upstream APIs) | Closed (Stable* origins proprietary) | N/A (facilitator only) | +| **Client SDK** | Standard x402 libraries | Published on npm, no license | `@payai/x402` on npm | +| **GitHub** | [ConejoCapital/OpenCash](https://github.com/ConejoCapital/OpenCash) | Merit-Systems org | [PayAINetwork org](https://github.com/PayAINetwork) | +| **Team** | Known (Conejo Capital) | Known (Merit Systems, Brooklyn) | Anonymous | --- @@ -153,6 +238,18 @@ npx -y agentcash@latest - You're an **agent developer** who just needs API access, not an operator - You want **MCP-native** integration with Claude Code, Cursor, etc. +### Choose PayAI Network when: +- You need **multi-chain settlement** (16 networks including Solana + EVM) +- You want **gasless transactions** — PayAI covers all blockchain fees +- You're building a **merchant** and need a facilitator without running your own +- You want your service **auto-listed** in the x402 Bazaar for discovery +- You're building **autonomous agents** that need P2P discovery and escrow +- You need **x402 protocol compatibility** across the widest range of chains + +### Combining them: +- **OpenCash + PayAI**: Use PayAI as OpenCash's facilitator for multi-chain settlement and gasless transactions. Set `FACILITATOR_URL=https://facilitator.payai.network` in your `.env`. +- **OpenCash + AgentCash**: An AgentCash-powered agent could pay an OpenCash-powered merchant, if both support the same chain/token. + --- ## Limitations @@ -174,17 +271,28 @@ npx -y agentcash@latest - **No open-source license**: Legal ambiguity for derivative works - **Local-only wallet**: No backup/recovery — lose the file, lose the funds +### PayAI Network +- **Anonymous team**: No known founders — trust risk for production use +- **PAYAI token**: Launched on pump.fun — raises legitimacy questions +- **Not an API proxy**: Facilitator only — you still need a merchant layer (like OpenCash) +- **Smaller market share**: ~14% of x402 settlements vs Coinbase's ~80% +- **Small community**: GitHub repos have 2–5 stars +- **Rate limits**: 4 RPS on free and pay-as-you-go tiers + --- ## Summary -| Dimension | OpenCash | AgentCash | -|-----------|----------|-----------| -| Control | Full (self-hosted) | None (SaaS) | -| Setup effort | Medium (config + deploy) | Zero (npx install) | -| API breadth | Unlimited (config any API) | 136+ curated | -| Chain | Solana | Base | -| Tokens | USDC + PYUSD | USDC | -| Pricing control | Operator sets prices | Merit Systems sets prices | -| Source | MIT open source | No declared license | -| Ideal user | Operators, builders | Agent developers | +| Dimension | OpenCash | AgentCash | PayAI Network | +|-----------|----------|-----------|---------------| +| **Layer** | Merchant (API proxy) | Client (agent SDK) | Settlement (facilitator) | +| **Control** | Full (self-hosted) | None (SaaS) | Partial (facilitator service) | +| **Setup effort** | Medium (config + deploy) | Zero (npx install) | Zero (point facilitator URL) | +| **API breadth** | Unlimited (config any API) | 136+ curated | N/A (not an API proxy) | +| **Chains** | Solana | Base | 16 chains | +| **Tokens** | USDC + PYUSD | USDC | USDC + custom | +| **Gas fees** | Operator pays | Origin pays | PayAI covers (gasless) | +| **Pricing control** | Operator sets prices | Merit Systems sets prices | $0.001/settlement | +| **Source** | MIT open source | No declared license | Open source (MIT plugins) | +| **Team** | Known | Known | Anonymous | +| **Ideal user** | Operators, builders | Agent developers | Merchants needing multi-chain settlement |