# Cursor — CryptoDataAPI

> Add live crypto market data to Cursor: install the CryptoDataAPI Agent Skill and connect the MCP server via .cursor/mcp.json (remote HTTP or stdio). Free tier.

Give **Cursor** live crypto market data — prices, funding, open interest, liquidations, market regimes, Fear & Greed, dealer gamma and whale activity — as native MCP tools its agent can call.

Two parts: the **Agent Skill** (knowledge) and the **[MCP server](/ai-agents/mcp-server)** (live tools). Cursor supports both remote HTTP and stdio MCP servers, configured in `.cursor/mcp.json` (project) or `~/.cursor/mcp.json` (global).

- **Vendor:** Anysphere
- **Agent docs:** https://cursor.com/docs/mcp
- **Config:** `.cursor/mcp.json  ·  ~/.cursor/mcp.json`
- **MCP transports:** http, stdio
- **Skill directory:** `~/.claude/skills/ (skills CLI)`

## Step 1 — Install the Agent Skill

Install the skill with the skills CLI so Cursor's agent knows how to use our data and 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 `cryptodataapi` server to `.cursor/mcp.json` (create it if needed). Use the **remote HTTP** block (recommended — no Node) or the **stdio** block if you prefer a local bridge. Replace `cdk_live_YOUR_KEY` with your key — free one at [cryptodataapi.com/login](https://cryptodataapi.com/login).

Cursor picks it up automatically; check **Settings → MCP** to confirm the server is connected and its tools are enabled. Tip: keep real keys out of a committed `mcp.json` — Cursor supports `${env:NAME}` interpolation for secrets.

**Remote HTTP (recommended):**
```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "cryptodataapi": {
      "url": "https://cryptodataapi.com/mcp",
      "headers": { "X-API-Key": "cdk_live_YOUR_KEY" }
    }
  }
}
```

**Stdio bridge (alternative):**
```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "cryptodataapi": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "cryptodataapi-mcp"],
      "env": { "CRYPTODATA_API_KEY": "cdk_live_YOUR_KEY" }
    }
  }
}
```

## Step 3 — Try these prompts

In Cursor's agent (Composer), ask for a market read — see the example prompts below. The agent will call the tools directly.

## 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?"
- "Pull the daily snapshot and scaffold a Python script that alerts on regime changes."
- "Is dealer gamma amplifying or dampening BTC moves today?"

## FAQ

### Does it cost anything?

No. The skill is free and the **Free** API tier (no card) covers the whole market-wide picture. Per-coin quant, gamma and whale signals need [Pro](/pricing).

### Where does my API key live?

In `.cursor/mcp.json` — either as an `X-API-Key` header (remote) or a `CRYPTODATA_API_KEY` env var (stdio). To avoid committing it, use `${env:CRYPTODATA_API_KEY}` and set the variable in your environment.

### Cursor shows the server but no tools — why?

Open **Settings → MCP** and confirm the server is green/enabled (toggle it if needed), then reload. A red server usually means a bad URL or, on stdio, that `npx`/Node isn't on PATH. If tools 401, fix the key.

## Related

- [MCP Server](https://cryptodataapi.com/ai-agents/mcp-server)
- [Agent Skill](https://cryptodataapi.com/ai-agents/agent-skill)
- [Windsurf setup](https://cryptodataapi.com/ai-agents/windsurf)
- [GitHub Copilot setup](https://cryptodataapi.com/ai-agents/github-copilot)
- [Prompt library](https://cryptodataapi.com/prompts)

---

Canonical: https://cryptodataapi.com/ai-agents/cursor
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"}