@coinbase/coinbase-cli

Coinbase for agents — CLI and MCP server for the Coinbase platform. Authenticate once, access every API from your terminal or AI agent.

Zero runtime dependencies — just Node.js 22+.

Install

npm install -g @coinbase/coinbase-cli

Quick start

# 1. Set up your API key (get one at coinbase.com/settings/api)
coinbase env live --key-id <id> --key-secret <secret>

# 2. Make a request
coinbase products list

# 3. Explore available commands
coinbase --help

Commands

coinbase env — Manage API keys

Configure API keys once; all subsequent commands authenticate automatically.

coinbase env                                           # list environments
coinbase env live --key-id <id> --key-secret <secret>  # configure inline
coinbase env live --remove                             # remove an environment

Multiple API keys — prefix live to inherit its URL with a different key:

coinbase env live-team-a --key-id <id> --key-secret <secret>  # inherits live URL
coinbase env live                                              # switch back to live
coinbase products list -e live-team-a                          # one-off override

Custom environment names that don't start with live require --url:

coinbase env custom --key-id <id> --key-secret <secret> --url https://api.coinbase.com

coinbase <resource> <action> — API operations

Commands are generated from the API spec. Run coinbase --help to see available resources and actions.

coinbase products list
coinbase products get product_id=BTC-USD
coinbase orders list
coinbase orders create product_id=BTC-USD side=BUY ...
coinbase balance

Use --template to see the expected request shape before writing, and --dry-run to preview without sending:

coinbase orders create --template    # print request body template
coinbase orders create --dry-run     # preview the assembled request

Field syntax:

| Syntax | Meaning | |---|---| | key=value | String body field | | key:=value | Raw JSON body field | | key==value | Query parameter | | a.b.c=value | Nested body field | | @file.json | Body from file | | - | Body from stdin | | Header:value | Custom HTTP header |

Resource flags:

| Flag | Behavior | |---|---| | --template | Print request body template as JSON | | --dry-run | Print request without sending | | --edit | Open request body in $EDITOR | | --jq <expr> | Filter JSON response (requires jq) | | --paginate | Auto-follow pagination for full results | | -e <env> | Use a specific environment |

coinbase history — Request history

View and manage a log of recent API requests made through the CLI.

coinbase history        # show recent requests
coinbase history clear  # clear request history

coinbase skills — Workflow skills

Manage reusable workflow skills (prompt templates) that extend the MCP server.

coinbase skills list                # list available skills
coinbase skills add                 # install/update all bundled skills
coinbase skills add --dir <path>    # install to a specific directory
coinbase skills remove              # remove all installed skills

Claude Code / MCP

coinbase mcp starts an MCP server that gives AI agents typed tool access to every Coinbase API endpoint. Tools are generated from the spec — new endpoints appear automatically when the CLI updates.

In addition to API tools, the MCP server exposes meta-tools for environment and workflow management:

| Tool | Purpose | |---|---| | coinbase_set_env | Switch the active API environment | | coinbase_env | Show current environment and key info | | coinbase_help | Get usage help for CLI commands |

If you installed the CLI globally:

claude mcp add --scope user --transport stdio coinbase -- coinbase mcp

MCP only (no global install needed — runs via npx):

claude mcp add --scope user --transport stdio coinbase -- npx -y @coinbase/coinbase-cli mcp

If you use both the CLI and MCP, install globally so they share the same version and spec.

Or add to your project's .mcp.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "coinbase": { "transport": "stdio", "command": "coinbase", "args": ["mcp"] }
  }
}

Auto-approve read operations in .claude/settings.json:

{
  "permissions": {
    "allow": [
      "mcp__coinbase__coinbase_env",
      "mcp__coinbase__coinbase_help",
      "mcp__coinbase__coinbase_*_list",
      "mcp__coinbase__coinbase_*_get"
    ]
  }
}

Configuration

Environment variables override config file values:

| Variable | Purpose | |---|---| | COINBASE_ENV | Active environment name | | COINBASE_KEY_ID | API key ID | | COINBASE_KEY_SECRET | API key secret | | COINBASE_URL | Base URL override | | COINBASE_NO_HISTORY | Set to 1 to disable request history | | COINBASE_CONFIG_DIR | Config directory (default: ~/.config/coinbase, %APPDATA%\coinbase on Windows) |

Keys and state are stored in config.json within the config directory.

Contributing

See CONTRIBUTING.md.

Security

See SECURITY.md.

License

MIT