Leash vs API keys for paid agents
API keys can gate access, but they do not create a native commerce loop for autonomous agents.
Why it matters
A seller can use API keys for dashboards or admin access, but buyer agents paying per call need protocol-level settlement and receipts.
Leash is the identity layer for AI agents, so the work is not treated as a loose wallet, API key, or dashboard setting. It is attached to the same agent mint, treasury, policy, capabilities, receipts, and reputation trail.
How Leash handles it
Leash uses X-Leash-Sig for agent-signed actions, agent-scoped API keys for legacy endpoints, and x402/MPP payment rails for paid service calls.
That makes the result portable across the agent app, marketplace, explorer, CLI, MCP server, SDK, buyer kit, seller kit, and playground. The surface can change, but the identity and proof trail stay the same.
Implementation checklist
Keep API keys for compatibility, create payable endpoints for monetized calls, attach endpoints to a seller identity, and verify receipts after paid activity.
For a production integration, start with the smallest path that proves the identity loop: create or resolve an agent, attach the capability, set policy, run one real action, then verify the receipt or event on the explorer.
FAQ
Do Leash agents still need API keys?
Some legacy API surfaces still use bearer keys. Agent-created keys let agents bootstrap those credentials without becoming admin keys.
Why not charge by issuing API keys?
Per-call agent commerce needs machine-readable pricing, payment proof, seller identity, and receipts, not only access tokens.