# Test a paid request (/guides/test-paid-request)

This page pays an endpoint you protected with FastAPI, Django, or direct HTTP. The payer uses Coinbase Agentic Wallet (AWAL) with Base Sepolia test USDC.

You need Node.js 24 or newer, an email address for AWAL, and an endpoint that already returns its unpaid `402`. The commands use a POSIX shell on macOS or Linux; on Windows, use WSL.

The guides use a fixed **0.01 USD** test price. recuut asks the wallet for **10,000 atomic units of Base Sepolia USDC** because USDC has six decimal places. The wallet command caps the request at 100,000 atomic units, or 0.10 USDC.

Commands on this page use AWAL 2.12.1. You are ready for the paid retry when the endpoint returns its unpaid `402`, AWAL status shows an authenticated wallet, its address command prints an address, and its Base Sepolia balance shows at least 0.01 USDC.

## Create and fund the Base Sepolia wallet

AWAL stores its own key. `auth login` prints a flow ID and emails a one-time code. Pass both to `auth verify`, then confirm with `status`:

```bash
npx awal@2.12.1 auth login "you@example.com"
npx awal@2.12.1 auth verify "<flow-id>" "<one-time-code>"
npx awal@2.12.1 status
```

Print the wallet address:

```bash
npx awal@2.12.1 address
```

Open the [Circle Faucet](https://faucet.circle.com/), select **USDC** and **Base Sepolia**, paste that AWAL address, and choose **Send 20 USDC**. Then check the balance with `npx awal@2.12.1 balance --chain base-sepolia`.

The fixed exact-USDC payment is gasless, so the AWAL address does not need Base Sepolia ETH. It needs at least 0.01 test USDC. If the balance is still zero, wait for the faucet transaction to confirm, verify that Base Sepolia—not Base—was selected, then check again.

## Run the paid retry

Set `PROTECTED_RESOURCE_URL` to the endpoint you are testing, such as `http://127.0.0.1:8000/generate`, then let AWAL make the initial request, read the `402`, authorize the payment, and retry:

```bash
npx awal@2.12.1 status
npx awal@2.12.1 balance --chain base-sepolia
npx awal@2.12.1 x402 pay "$PROTECTED_RESOURCE_URL" \
  -X POST \
  -h '{"Content-Type":"application/json"}' \
  -d '{"prompt":"paid testnet response"}' \
  --max-amount 100000 \
  --json
```

Approve only if the wallet shows Base Sepolia USDC and no more than 0.10 USDC.

A successful response carries your protected result and `PAYMENT-RESPONSE`. The direct HTTP example returns this shape:

```text
HTTP/1.1 200 OK
PAYMENT-RESPONSE: <base64 payment receipt>
content-type: application/json

{"text":"PAID TESTNET RESPONSE","transaction_id":"txn_..."}
```

If the endpoint returns HTTP `202`, payment is still `settling` or `reconciling`. The response contains no protected result and no `PAYMENT-RESPONSE`. Keep the transaction ID, wait briefly, and check the saved transaction instead of treating the request as paid.

## Verify the receipt

Copy the transaction ID into `TRANSACTION_ID`, then query it with the same server key. The direct HTTP example returns it as `transaction_id`; for any integration, **Transactions** in the recuut app lists it.

```bash
curl --request GET \
  --url "${RECUUT_API_URL:-https://api.recuut.com}/merchant/v1/transactions/$TRANSACTION_ID" \
  --header "Authorization: Bearer $RECUUT_API_KEY"
```

Completion is proven only when `status` is `succeeded` and `receipt` is present.

The receipt should name `test`, Base Sepolia (`eip155:84532`), USDC, the resource, and the 10,000-atomic-unit payment.

Pending or failed records have no receipt. [Transactions and receipts](/guides/operate/transactions/) explains each status.

Once the paid test passes, [go live](/guides/go-live/).