# GitHub Copilot — CryptoDataAPI

> Add live crypto data to GitHub Copilot in VS Code: install the CryptoDataAPI skill and connect the MCP server via .vscode/mcp.json (agent mode). Free tier.

Give **GitHub Copilot in VS Code** live crypto market data — prices, funding, open interest, liquidations, market regimes, Fear & Greed, dealer gamma and whale activity — as native MCP tools in Copilot's agent mode.

Two parts: the **Agent Skill** (knowledge) and the **[MCP server](/ai-agents/mcp-server)** (live tools). VS Code reads MCP servers from `.vscode/mcp.json` (workspace) under the top-level **`servers`** key, and supports remote HTTP (`type: http`) and stdio (`type: stdio`).

- **Vendor:** GitHub / Microsoft
- **Agent docs:** https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/copilot/chat/mcp-servers
- **Config:** `.vscode/mcp.json`
- **MCP transports:** http, stdio

## Step 1 — Install the Agent Skill

Install the skill with the skills CLI so Copilot's agent has our data workflows on hand. 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

Create `.vscode/mcp.json` in your workspace (or run **MCP: Add Server** from the Command Palette) and add the `cryptodataapi` server under the `servers` key. Use the **remote HTTP** block (recommended) or the **stdio** block. Replace `cdk_live_YOUR_KEY` with your key — free one at [cryptodataapi.com/login](https://cryptodataapi.com/login).

Note the root key is **`servers`**, not `mcpServers` — VS Code differs from most other clients here. To avoid committing a secret, VS Code supports `${input:...}` prompts and env references.

**.vscode/mcp.json (remote HTTP):**
```json
{
  "servers": {
    "cryptodataapi": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "https://cryptodataapi.com/mcp",
      "headers": { "X-API-Key": "cdk_live_YOUR_KEY" }
    }
  }
}
```

**.vscode/mcp.json (stdio):**
```json
{
  "servers": {
    "cryptodataapi": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "cryptodataapi-mcp"],
      "env": { "CRYPTODATA_API_KEY": "cdk_live_YOUR_KEY" }
    }
  }
}
```

## Step 3 — Try these prompts

Open the Copilot Chat view and switch to **Agent** mode — MCP tools are invisible in Ask or Edit mode. Confirm the tools under the tools/tools-picker icon, then ask for a market read (see below).

## 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 generate a TypeScript client for these endpoints."
- "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). (Copilot itself requires a GitHub Copilot subscription.)

### I don't see the tools in Copilot Chat.

MCP tools only appear in **Agent** mode — switch the Chat mode dropdown from Ask/Edit to Agent. Then open the tools picker and enable the `cryptodataapi` tools. Use **MCP: List Servers** to confirm the server started; a red status usually means bad JSON or, on stdio, missing Node.

### Why is the root key `servers` and not `mcpServers`?

That's VS Code's schema — it uses `servers` in `.vscode/mcp.json`, while Cursor, Windsurf and Claude clients use `mcpServers`. Copy the block above exactly and you'll be fine.

## Related

- [MCP Server](https://cryptodataapi.com/ai-agents/mcp-server)
- [Agent Skill](https://cryptodataapi.com/ai-agents/agent-skill)
- [Cursor setup](https://cryptodataapi.com/ai-agents/cursor)
- [Windsurf setup](https://cryptodataapi.com/ai-agents/windsurf)
- [REST API docs](https://cryptodataapi.com/api/docs)

---

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