Proof launches x401 identity and authorization protocol for AI agents
The open HTTP protocol is designed to verify whom an agent represents and the transaction terms a user has signed.
Event / data period: 2026-10-15
Published: · Updated:

Boston-based Proof said on 15 October that it had launched the open x401 protocol and an agent identity wallet. The protocol uses the HTTP 401 unauthorized response to let a website request verified evidence of whom an agent represents and a signature covering the transaction terms approved by the user.
The company says the identity wallet, x401 request-and-verification protocol and a production server for MCP-compatible assistants are available. A user reviews and approves an action on their own device, after which a recipient can check the signature and terms. These are company descriptions of the product and its compatibility; no independent adoption or outcomes data were announced.
Data
Product and feature availability
Services and features described in the 15 October announcement
- · Occurred
Announcement summary
x401 requests and verifies signed transaction authorization; the company announced a production MCP server.
Methodology
Capabilities are taken from the company’s 15 October announcement; this is not an independent security audit or adoption measurement.
Updated:
Subjects and places
Subject proposals
- Artificial intelligenceSuggested
- Subject suggested from the title or summary: AIwww.globenewswire.com ↗
Geographic references
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- United States · Place role: Coverage · Place type: Country or area · Location precision: RegionalEvidence
- Explicit preserved editorial country/region; no city or national centroid inferredwww.globenewswire.com ↗
- Boston · Boston, United States · Place role: Place mentioned by source · Place type: City · Location precision: Approximate
-71.06028, 42.35833 (longitude, latitude)
EvidenceOpen this point in OpenStreetMap ↗- Explicit article mention: Boston. Country agrees with the preserved article scope. Gazetteer reference only; event location is unconfirmed.www.globenewswire.com ↗ungegn.un.org ↗ungegn-api.azurewebsites.net ↗