Post-settlement means Fiscal402 starts when money has already moved. It does not create the HTTP 402 challenge, pick a facilitator, broadcast a transaction, or hold balances.
- resource requires payment
- ↓
- x402 settles the exact transfer
- ↓
- Fiscal402 observes evidence
- ↓
- fiscal event + receipt
Why this split exists
Payment protocols optimize for latency and cryptographic proof of transfer. Fiscal systems optimize for identity, jurisdiction, and durable documents. Mixing them produces either a slow wallet or a tax engine that thinks it is a facilitator.