# Claude Code — CryptoDataAPI

> Add live crypto market data to Claude Code: install the CryptoDataAPI Agent Skill and connect the MCP server over remote HTTP in one command. Free tier.

Give **Claude Code** live crypto market data — prices, cross-exchange funding and open interest, liquidations, market regimes, Fear & Greed, dealer gamma and whale activity — as native MCP tools it can call while you work.

Setup is two parts: the **Agent Skill** teaches Claude Code *how and when* to use our data, and the **[MCP server](/ai-agents/mcp-server)** gives it the *live tools*. The skill lands in `~/.claude/skills/`; the MCP server connects over remote HTTP with your API key.

- **Vendor:** Anthropic
- **Agent docs:** https://code.claude.com/docs/en/mcp
- **Config:** `~/.claude.json`
- **MCP transports:** http, stdio
- **Skill directory:** `~/.claude/skills/`

## Step 1 — Install the Agent Skill

Install the skill globally so it's available in every project. It teaches Claude Code which endpoint answers which question, plus ready-made market workflows. See the [Agent Skill page](/ai-agents/agent-skill) for what's inside.

**Terminal:**
```bash
npx skills add Crypto-Data-API/cryptodataapi-skills -g -y
```

## Step 2 — Connect the MCP server

Add the remote HTTP server with your key in the `X-API-Key` header. This is the recommended transport — no Node, nothing to install. Don't have a key yet? Grab a free one at [cryptodataapi.com/login](https://cryptodataapi.com/login), or let Claude call the `create_free_api_key` tool.

Prefer a local stdio server? Use the `cryptodataapi-mcp` npm bridge instead — it forwards to the same hosted endpoint.

**Remote HTTP (recommended):**
```bash
claude mcp add --transport http cryptodataapi \
  https://cryptodataapi.com/mcp \
  --header "X-API-Key: cdk_live_YOUR_KEY"
```

Replace `cdk_live_YOUR_KEY` with your key — create a free one at https://cryptodataapi.com/login or ask the MCP `create_free_api_key` tool.

**Stdio bridge (alternative):**
```bash
CRYPTODATA_API_KEY=cdk_live_YOUR_KEY \
  claude mcp add cryptodataapi -- npx -y cryptodataapi-mcp
```

## Step 3 — Try these prompts

Start a fresh Claude Code session so it picks up the new server (`/mcp` lists connected servers and their tools). Then ask for a market read — see the example prompts below. Kick off with `get_daily_snapshot` for a one-call overview.

## Example prompts

- "What's the current market regime and which strategy baskets fit it?"
- "Compare BTC funding rates across exchanges and flag crowded positioning."
- "Which coins have the highest liquidation risk right now?"
- "Is dealer gamma amplifying or dampening BTC moves today?"
- "Pull the daily snapshot and write me a three-line market brief."

## FAQ

### Does it cost anything?

No. The skill is free, and the **Free** API tier (no card) covers market health, regimes, Fear & Greed, macro, flows, 2,000+ coin profiles and full-universe Hyperliquid funding + open interest. Per-coin quant, gamma and whale signals need [Pro](/pricing).

### Where does my API key live?

On the remote transport the key is stored in the server header inside `~/.claude.json` when you run `claude mcp add`. On the stdio bridge it comes from the `CRYPTODATA_API_KEY` env var. It's sent as `X-API-Key` on every tool call and never leaves your machine except to our API.

### Claude Code doesn't see the tools — what now?

Restart the session (or run `/mcp` to reconnect) so it re-reads the server list. Confirm the server shows as connected under `/mcp`. If a data tool returns a 401, your key is missing or wrong; re-run `claude mcp add` with a valid `cdk_live_` key, or call `create_free_api_key` to mint one.

## Related

- [MCP Server](https://cryptodataapi.com/ai-agents/mcp-server)
- [Agent Skill](https://cryptodataapi.com/ai-agents/agent-skill)
- [Claude Desktop setup](https://cryptodataapi.com/ai-agents/claude-desktop)
- [Cursor setup](https://cryptodataapi.com/ai-agents/cursor)
- [Prompt library](https://cryptodataapi.com/prompts)

---

Canonical: https://cryptodataapi.com/ai-agents/claude-code
Machine-readable API map: https://cryptodataapi.com/llms.txt
Agent skill repo: https://github.com/Crypto-Data-API/cryptodataapi-skills (`npx skills add Crypto-Data-API/cryptodataapi-skills -g -y`)
Free API key (no signup): POST https://cryptodataapi.com/api/v1/auth/keys {"email":"you@example.com"}