x402 quote checked vs paid-call verified
The exact difference between observing a valid 402 requirement and proving settlement plus useful output.
DIRECT ANSWER
Quote checked means an unpaid request reached the endpoint and returned a usable x402 payment requirement. Paid-call verified means a reviewer authorized the payment, confirmed settlement and checked that the endpoint returned the documented result. A quote check is cheaper and scalable; paid verification is stronger but narrower evidence. Neither is a permanent uptime guarantee.
Key takeaways
- Provider-reported live status is weaker than a current quote check.
- A 402 quote proves a payment wall, not the quality of the paid output.
- Verification dates must remain visible because stale badges create false confidence.
What an unpaid quote check proves
The checker reaches the advertised endpoint, uses the expected method or MCP handshake, and observes payment requirements. It records the network, quoted amount when present and date. It does not sign a payment or assert that the provider would return a useful response after settlement.
What a paid-call check adds
A paid verification chooses a non-mutating representative operation, authorizes a bounded payment and checks the successful response against documented behavior. Where available, settlement or receipt evidence is retained. The reviewer should avoid publishing sensitive wallet or response data.
| State | Payment made | Output checked | Scalable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Provider reports live | No | No | Yes |
| Quote checked | No | No | Yes |
| Paid-call verified | Yes | Yes | Limited |
Badge maintenance
A verification badge should include its date and be removed or downgraded when later checks fail. Automated quote checks can run more often than paid calls. TOLL·402 keeps these fields separate so a failed liveness check does not rewrite historical evidence, but it does change what buyers see now.
Related directory entries
Sources and methodology
TOLL·402 distinguishes public claims, registry discovery, unpaid quote checks and settled paid-call verification. Sources below support the visible claims; presence in a registry is not treated as verification.
- TOLL·402 verification methodology — Public definitions for quote checks, paid calls and dated evidence.
- x402 signed offers and receipts — Protocol extension for verifiable payment artifacts.
- x402 client/server concepts — Authoritative payment flow.