> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.flarehq.xyz/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# FlareHQ: Web3 Payments Infrastructure for Builders

> FlareHQ is an API-first payment protocol for USDC checkouts, x402 micro-paywalls, per-second streaming, and on-chain escrow — all settled on Arc testnet.

FlareHQ is an API-first Web3 payment platform that gives developers and businesses a complete toolkit for accepting, streaming, and programmatically controlling USDC payments — all settled on-chain on Arc testnet. Whether you're selling digital goods, monetizing API calls by the request, paying contractors by the second, or deploying autonomous AI agents that transact on their own, FlareHQ provides the infrastructure layer so you don't have to build it yourself.

## Core capabilities

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Hosted USDC Checkouts" icon="credit-card" href="/payments/hosted-checkout">
    Generate shareable payment links and embeddable checkout sessions with a single API call. Customers pay in USDC — no wallet setup friction on your end.
  </Card>

  <Card title="x402 API Micro-Paywalls" icon="bolt" href="/x402/overview">
    Gate any REST endpoint behind an HTTP 402 payment proof. Charge sub-cent USDC per request, enabling instant monetization of APIs and AI-readable data feeds.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Per-Second Streaming Payments" icon="wave-pulse" href="/payments/streaming-payments">
    Stream USDC to any address continuously using the on-chain `ArcFlareStream` contract. Ideal for subscriptions, payroll, and time-based service billing.
  </Card>

  <Card title="On-Chain Escrow & Disputes" icon="shield-check" href="/payments/escrow-and-disputes">
    Hold funds in a smart contract until milestones are met. Built-in dispute resolution keeps both parties protected without requiring a third-party intermediary.
  </Card>

  <Card title="AI Agent Payments" icon="robot" href="/agents/overview">
    Deploy autonomous agents with ERC-8004 on-chain identities and Circle MPC wallets. Agents can initiate payments, consume x402 APIs, and participate in the ERC-8183 job marketplace independently.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Cross-Chain USDC Bridge" icon="arrow-right-arrow-left" href="/payments/cctp-bridge">
    Move USDC across chains via Circle CCTP without wrapping or intermediaries. Payments always settle as native USDC on the destination chain.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## How FlareHQ is different

Traditional payment providers are built around fiat rails — bank accounts, card networks, and settlement delays measured in days. FlareHQ is stablecoin-native from the ground up:

| Dimension               | Traditional Providers         | FlareHQ                                  |
| ----------------------- | ----------------------------- | ---------------------------------------- |
| **Settlement asset**    | Fiat (USD, EUR, etc.)         | USDC on Arc testnet                      |
| **Settlement time**     | 1–3 business days             | Seconds (on-chain finality)              |
| **Wallet custody**      | Provider-custodied            | Non-custodial Circle MPC wallets         |
| **Agent compatibility** | None                          | ERC-8004 identity + ERC-8183 marketplace |
| **Micro-payments**      | \$0.30+ minimum viable charge | Sub-cent x402 per-request billing        |
| **Payment streaming**   | Not supported                 | Per-second USDC via ArcFlareStream       |
| **Auditability**        | Private ledgers               | Public on-chain transaction history      |

Because every payment settles on-chain, your business logic can react to payment events programmatically — no polling reconciliation jobs, no overnight batch files.

## What you need to get started

Before you write your first line of code, make sure you have the following:

* **A FlareHQ account** — sign up at [flarehq.xyz](https://flarehq.xyz). You'll verify your email and complete a brief merchant onboarding form.
* **API keys** — a Secret Key (`fhq_sec_...`) for server-side calls and a Publishable Key (`fhq_pub_...`) for client-side use. Both are generated from **Settings > API Keys** in your dashboard.
* **Node.js 18+** (or Bun) — the `@flarehq/sdk` requires a modern JavaScript runtime.
* **Testnet USDC** — Arc testnet has a faucet for free test USDC so you can exercise the full payment flow before going live.

<Tip>
  You can start integrating immediately on testnet — no KYC or approval process required. Testnet keys are prefixed `fhq_sec_test_...` and `fhq_pub_test_...` so they're easy to distinguish from live credentials.
</Tip>

## Architecture overview

FlareHQ is composed of several discrete infrastructure layers. Understanding how they fit together helps you choose the right product primitive for your use case.

| Layer            | Component             | Description                                                                                  |
| ---------------- | --------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Network**      | Arc Testnet (5042002) | High-throughput EVM-compatible execution layer purpose-built for USDC settlement             |
| **Wallets**      | Circle MPC Provider   | Developer-Controlled non-custodial wallets — you control keys, FlareHQ never takes custody   |
| **Monetization** | x402 Proxy Gateway    | HTTP 402 micro-settlement executor that validates payment proofs on every gated request      |
| **Streaming**    | ArcFlareStream        | Per-second token streaming contract that distributes USDC continuously between two addresses |
| **Registry**     | ERC-8004 Identity     | On-chain agent identity registry — every deployed agent gets a unique on-chain ID and token  |

## Explore the docs

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Quickstart" icon="rocket" href="/quickstart">
    Install the SDK and process your first USDC payment in under 5 minutes.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Hosted Checkout" icon="credit-card" href="/payments/hosted-checkout">
    Generate payment links and embeddable sessions for your storefront.
  </Card>

  <Card title="x402 Micro-Paywalls" icon="bolt" href="/x402/overview">
    Monetize your APIs with per-request HTTP 402 billing.
  </Card>

  <Card title="AI Agents" icon="robot" href="/agents/overview">
    Deploy autonomous agents with on-chain identities and managed wallets.
  </Card>

  <Card title="API Reference" icon="code" href="/api-reference/overview">
    Full reference for every FlareHQ REST endpoint and SDK method.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Webhooks" icon="webhook" href="/developers/webhooks">
    Subscribe to real-time payment lifecycle events for your backend.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>