Show HN: Caddy plugin that charges AI crawlers real USDC to access your site

Caddy's introduction of a plugin that charges AI crawlers real USDC to access a site, using the x402 protocol by Coinbase, marks a significant shift in the way website owners can manage AI bot traffic. This plugin, available on GitHub, specifically targets known AI crawlers like GPTBot and ClaudeBot, requiring them to pay for content access. For website owners, this means a potential new revenue stream and a way to curb unwanted AI bot traffic. By leveraging the x402 protocol, site owners can now charge AI crawlers for accessing their content, potentially reducing the financial burden of serving AI-generated requests. This development is particularly relevant for sites with high-value or sensitive content, as it allows them to monetize access and better control how their data is used. To take advantage of this development, website owners can start by monitoring their AI bot traffic using tools like llms.txt to identify areas where they can implement paid access. They can then integrate the Caddy plugin into their existing infrastructure to begin charging AI crawlers for content access. Additionally, site owners should review their content policies to ensure they are aligned with the new paid access model, and consider implementing measures to prevent AI crawlers from finding ways to bypass the payment requirements.