Guide · 2026
x402 Settlement Witness: Proof After Pay (2026)
By Cleared Index · Updated 2026 · 6 min read
Pay without proof is gossip. Cleared Witness closes the loop: agents and operators can cite that a settlement occurred in context of verified inventory.
Loop
- Cleared Check — trust before pay
- Gateway — route to best verified endpoint
- Pay — facilitator / wallet settle (e.g. Base USDC)
- Witness — attestation receipt after settle
Base gravity
Cleared's home field is Base. Solana stays open when agents settle there. Witness language follows the rail that moved the money.
Prove the settle.
Check before. Witness after. That's the trust gateway loop.
Integrate in a few lines
# After settle — fetch witness surfaceshttps://clearedindex.com/witnessGET /api/cleared/check?origin=… # before payFrequently Asked Questions
What is a Cleared Witness?+
An attestation that a settlement happened — typically USDC on Base — tied to Cleared's verification context. Proof after pay.
Is Witness insurance?+
No. Witness and Certified Hash are attestation receipts, not financial guarantees.
When should agents Witness?+
After settle, when you need a citeable receipt for ops, audits, or operator proof that spend landed.
How does this relate to Check?+
Check is before pay. Witness is after. Gateway sits in between. Full loop: Check → Route → Pay → Witness.
Related
Sibling rail: Ape Gate Check on Entropy Index. Regime context before size — Cleared before spend.