Tool surface

Pay for agent tools, not just pages.

MCP is the natural place to sell discovery, data lookup, and task execution because the buyer is already a machine. The gateway can charge per tool call, per retrieved record, or per completed task.

Tool categories

The tool set should be narrow at first so buyers can understand what they are paying for and why the call is worth it.

Discovery tools

Help agents find the right product, route, or knowledge area before they ask for a paid response.

Lookup tools

Return network status, registry entries, and structured metadata with a tiny per-call fee.

Execution tools

Handle negotiation, workflow assembly, or completed tasks with a higher outcome-based price.

How the buyer moves

Agents should be able to discover the tool list, see the price, and buy the call without being pushed through a human checkout flow.

1 Inspect the tool list

The agent sees what the gateway can do before it sends a paid request.

2 Choose a route

The client picks a tool or route that matches the user intent.

3 Attach payment

The request carries proof of payment or an agreed max price.

4 Run the tool

The edge validates the payment and only then forwards the request.