---
name: mpp-agent
description: Pay HTTP 402 APIs via Machine Payments Protocol (MPP).
version: 0.1.0
author: Teknium (teknium1), Hermes Agent
license: MIT
platforms: [linux, macos]
metadata:
  hermes:
    tags: [Payments, MPP, HTTP-402, Tempo, Stripe]
    related_skills: [stripe-link-cli, stripe-projects]
---

# MPP Agent Skill

Wraps the Machine Payments Protocol (MPP, https://mpp.dev) clients so Hermes can pay for per-request API access against servers that respond with `HTTP 402 Payment Required`.

Three client options, all distributed via npm. Pick the lightest one that solves the user's need. Gated `[linux, macos]` while the broader payments tooling matures on Windows.

## When to Use

- A merchant API returns `HTTP 402` with a `www-authenticate` header — and the user wants to actually pay it, not just log the response.
- The user asks to "pay per request", "set up an agent wallet", "use Tempo / Privy / AgentCash", or wants to discover MPP-priced services.
- A Stripe Link spend has produced a Shared Payment Token (SPT) and the agent needs to attach it to the 402 challenge — in that flow, prefer `link-cli mpp pay` (see the `stripe-link-cli` skill).

## Choosing a client

| Tool | When | Setup |
|---|---|---|
| `link-cli` | User already has Stripe Link set up, or the 402 challenge advertises `method="stripe"` | see the `stripe-link-cli` skill |
| Tempo Wallet | MPP services with spend controls, service discovery | `tempo wallet login` |
| Privy Agent CLI | Multi-chain wallets, browser-based funding | `privy-agent-wallets login` |
| AgentCash | 300+ pre-priced APIs via one USDC.e balance | `npx agentcash onboard` |
| `mppx` | Dev + debugging, smallest dep surface | `npm install -g mppx` then `mppx account create` |

Default: if the user already has Stripe Link configured or the 402 challenge specifies `method="stripe"`, use `link-cli mpp pay` (the `stripe-link-cli` skill). Otherwise `mppx` for one-off paid calls and debugging, and Tempo Wallet when the user wants persistent spend controls.

## Prerequisites

- Node.js 20+ on `PATH`
- A funded wallet (Tempo / Privy / AgentCash) OR an `mppx` account
- For Tempo / Privy / AgentCash: follow their respective onboarding skills:
  - `https://tempo.xyz/SKILL.md`
  - `https://agents.privy.io/skill.md`
  - `https://agentcash.dev/skill.md`

Use `web_extract` to fetch any of those SKILL.md files if the user picks one.

## Procedure (mppx, fastest path)

Run all commands through the `terminal` tool.

### 1. Install + create an account

```
npm install -g mppx
mppx account create
```

Store the resulting account credentials wherever the CLI tells you (the CLI writes them under its own config — do not paste them into the agent transcript).

### 2. Inspect the merchant's 402 challenge

If the user gives you a URL, probe it first to confirm it actually speaks MPP:

```
curl -i <url>
```

A real MPP 402 looks like:

```
HTTP/1.1 402 Payment Required
www-authenticate: tempo amount=0.1 currency=...
```

### 3. Pay the request

```
mppx <url>
```

For non-GET methods or request bodies:

```
mppx <url> --method POST --data '<json>'
```

`mppx` handles the 402 challenge/credential dance automatically and prints the merchant's actual response on success.

### 4. Verify the receipt

`mppx` attaches the receipt header automatically. To inspect:

```
mppx <url> -v
```

## Procedure (Tempo Wallet)

The Tempo Wallet skill at https://tempo.xyz/SKILL.md is the canonical reference; fetch it with `web_extract` and follow it. Headline:

```
tempo wallet login
tempo wallet pay <url>
```

Spend controls and service discovery live in the wallet UI at https://wallet.tempo.xyz.

## Pitfalls

- **`HTTP 402` without `method="stripe"` cannot be paid by Stripe Link.** If the challenge advertises only Tempo / other methods, use `mppx` (or whichever wallet matches) — Link will reject it. Conversely, if it advertises `method="stripe"`, prefer Link via the `stripe-link-cli` skill so the spend goes through the user's approved card.
- **Multiple challenges in one header.** `www-authenticate` may list several methods (e.g. `tempo, stripe`). The Link CLI's `mpp decode` will pick the Stripe one; `mppx` will pick Tempo. There's no single "right" client — pick by which wallet the user has funded.
- **Zero-amount challenges.** Some MPP endpoints charge `$0.00` and just want a proof credential. These work without a funded wallet. Don't refuse them as "broken."
- **Wallet keys never enter agent context.** All four clients store keys under their own config dirs (or generate per-session ephemeral keypairs, in Privy's case). Do not `cat`/`read_file` them.
- **Server-side MPP is a different skill.** If the user wants to ADD 402 to their own API, this skill is wrong — point them at https://mpp.dev/quickstart/server and the `mppx/nextjs` / `mppx/hono` / `mppx/express` / `mppx/elysia` middlewares. A dedicated `mpp-server` skill may land later.

## Verification

```
mppx --version && mppx account list
```

Exit code 0 means installed and an account exists.