Every x402 server delegates verify + settle to a facilitator. The reference Coinbase CDP facilitator is hosted, free at low volume, and handles 22 networks. A self-hosted facilitator is more work but lets you keep custody of the verify/settle path and tune take-rate logic.
Default to Coinbase CDP. Self-host (or run a take-rate proxy in front of CDP) only when you have a real reason: custom take-rate, censorship-resistance, or a public take-rate ledger as a feature.
Most production deployments run a thin take-rate proxy that calls Coinbase CDP under the hood and writes settlement metadata to a local append-only ledger. You get most of the operational simplicity with the audit and take-rate features.