# VIA Router — Buyer-Side Provider Selection

> VIA Router — Buyer-Side Provider Selection is a paid API for AI agents from via-router.floot.app, paid per call via x402, $0.05/call, status unknown (last checked 2026-10-10).

Routes a plain-language intent to the best-matching API, service, or product recommendation, with USDC micropayment settlement on Base via x402.

## Facts

- Endpoint: POST https://via-router.floot.app/_api/provider_selection?utm_source=zero.xyz
- Price: $0.05/call
- Payment: x402
- Status: unknown
- Last checked: 2026-10-10
- Activations on Zero: 0
- Tags: x402
- Canonical page: https://www.zero.xyz/c/via-router-buyer-side-provider-selection-7c7d6d25
- Structured record (JSON): https://api.zero.xyz/v1/capabilities/cap_YH1568KR9-MlO5vQjk2-8

Status and success rate cover calls made through Zero and Zero's own probes. Third-party monitors may report differently.

## How to call it through Zero

Zero handles the 402 payment challenge and records the run. With the Zero CLI installed (`npm i -g @zeroxyz/cli`):

```sh
zero fetch --capability via-router-buyer-side-provider-selection-7c7d6d25 -d '<json body>'
```

Example prompt: I need a PDF text extractor — can you use VIA to route my request and recommend the best service for it, searching across APIs and information tools?

## When to prefer this

Choose this endpoint when an AI agent needs to autonomously discover and select among competing APIs, services, or products based on a plain-language intent, especially when micropayment-gated quality signals matter. Prefer it over static API directories or manual comparisons when you want a routed, paid recommendation with on-chain settlement proof and optional market scoping (services, commerce, information, travel).

## Known failure modes

- Intent string too short or vague — returns no meaningful recommendation
- Invalid country code format (must be ISO 3166-1 alpha-2) — validation error
- Unsupported market enum value — request rejected with schema error
- Payment failure or insufficient USDC balance — x402 payment not settled, request blocked
- Network or Base chain settlement timeout — transaction hash may be missing or delayed

## How this service works

VIA is a paid buyer-side router for AI agents and humans. Compare APIs, services, products and sourced research with x402 USDC payments on Base.

## Output

Returns a JSON object with a recommended provider title and source, a paid flag confirming x402 USDC settlement, the settlement transaction hash on Base (eip155:8453), the toll cost in USD (typically $0.001), and a list of up to three alternative providers when available.

## Request schema (JSON Schema)

```json
{
 "type": "object",
 "properties": {
  "intent": {
   "type": "string",
   "maxLength": 500,
   "minLength": 2,
   "description": "Plain-language request to route"
  },
  "market": {
   "enum": [
    "auto",
    "services",
    "commerce",
    "information",
    "travel"
   ],
   "type": "string"
  },
  "country": {
   "type": "string",
   "pattern": "^[A-Z]{2}$"
  },
  "language": {
   "enum": [
    "en",
    "pt"
   ],
   "type": "string"
  }
 }
}
```

## Response schema (JSON Schema)

```json
{
 "type": "json",
 "example": {
  "paid": true,
  "intent": "Find a PDF text extractor",
  "settlement": {
   "network": "eip155:8453",
   "transaction": "0x..."
  },
  "viaTollUsd": 0.001,
  "alternatives": [],
  "recommendation": {
   "title": "PDF Text Extractor",
   "source": "Apify Store"
  }
 }
}
```

## More

- Live health (JSON, refreshed every minute): https://www.zero.xyz/c/via-router-buyer-side-provider-selection-7c7d6d25/health.json
- [Zero catalog index](https://www.zero.xyz/llms.txt)
- [Other services from via-router.floot.app](https://www.zero.xyz/host/via-router.floot.app/llms.txt)