@coinbase/cdp-cli

Command-line interface for the Coinbase Developer Platform. Authenticate once, access every API from your terminal or AI agent.

Zero runtime dependencies — just Node.js 22+.

Install

npm install -g @coinbase/cdp-cli

Quick start

# 1. Set up your API key (get one at portal.cdp.coinbase.com)
cdp env live --key-file ./cdp-api-key.json

# 2. Make a request
cdp evm accounts list

# 3. Explore the API
cdp api

Commands

cdp env — Manage API keys

Configure API keys once; all subsequent commands authenticate automatically.

cdp env                                           # list environments
cdp env live --key-file ./cdp-api-key.json        # import key file from Portal
cdp env live --key-id <id> --key-secret <secret>  # configure inline
cdp env live --remove                             # remove an environment

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

cdp env live-team-a --key-id <id> --key-secret <secret>  # inherits live URL, switches to live-team-a
cdp env live                                              # switch back to live
cdp evm accounts list -e live-team-a                      # one-off override without switching

Wallet secret

Account write operations (create, sign, send) require a wallet secret. Generate one at portal.cdp.coinbase.com/products/server-wallet/accounts, then add it to your environment:

cdp env live --wallet-secret <secret>
# or, load from file
cdp env live --wallet-secret-file ./cdp_wallet_secret.txt
cdp evm accounts create name=my-wallet       # now works

The wallet secret is stored in your OS keyring alongside the API key. Manage it independently:

cdp env live --wallet-secret-file secret.txt  # add or update
cdp env live --remove-wallet-secret           # remove (keeps API key)
cdp env                                       # shows (wallet) indicator

For one-off use without persisting (e.g., testing with a key from a secrets manager):

CDP_WALLET_SECRET=$(cat secret.txt) cdp evm accounts create name=my-wallet

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

cdp env custom --key-id <id> --key-secret <secret> --url https://api.cdp.coinbase.com/platform/v2

cdp <resource> <action> — API operations

Commands are generated from the CDP OpenAPI spec. Run cdp api to browse available endpoints.

cdp evm accounts list
cdp evm accounts create name=my-wallet
cdp evm faucet address=0x... network=base-sepolia token=eth
cdp data evm token-balances base 0x...

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

cdp evm accounts create --template    # print request body template
cdp evm accounts create --dry-run    # preview the assembled request

Field syntax (shared with cdp api):

Resource flags:

cdp api — Raw HTTP

Lower-level access for endpoints or methods not covered by resource commands. Auth is handled automatically.

cdp api /evm/accounts
cdp api -X POST /evm/accounts name=my-wallet
cdp api -X POST /evm/accounts @body.json         # full body from file
echo '{"name":"my-wallet"}' | cdp api -X POST /evm/accounts -
cdp api /evm/accounts --jq '.accounts[].address'  # requires jq
cdp api /evm/accounts --paginate                   # auto-follow nextPageToken
cdp api /evm/accounts -v                           # show request + response headers

cdp api — Browse the API

Running cdp api with no arguments opens an interactive browser for the embedded OpenAPI spec.

cdp api                              # list all API groups
cdp api /evm                         # endpoints in a group
cdp api /evm/accounts --help         # full detail for one endpoint

cdp util — Encoding and key utilities

Helper commands for transaction encoding, ABI encoding, and key management.

cdp util tx-encode --to 0x... --value 1000000  # encode a transaction
cdp util tx-decode 0x...                       # decode a raw transaction
cdp util abi-encode 'transfer(address,uint256)' 0x... 1000  # ABI-encode calldata
cdp util encrypt-key                           # encrypt a private key for import

cdp skills — Workflow skills

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

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

cdp history — Request history

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

cdp history        # show recent requests
cdp history clear  # clear request history

Claude Code / MCP

cdp mcp starts an MCP server that gives Claude typed tool access to every CDP API endpoint. Tools are generated from the spec — new endpoints appear automatically when the CLI updates. Tool names mirror the nested subresource structure (e.g. evm_accounts_create, evm_accounts_sign_message).

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

If you installed the CLI globally:

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

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

claude mcp add --scope user --transport stdio cdp -- npx -y @coinbase/cdp-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": {
    "cdp": { "transport": "stdio", "command": "cdp", "args": ["mcp"] }
  }
}

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

{
  "permissions": {
    "allow": [
      "mcp__cdp__cdp_env",
      "mcp__cdp__cdp_help",
      "mcp__cdp__cdp_template",
      "mcp__cdp__cdp_*_list",
      "mcp__cdp__cdp_*_get"
    ]
  }
}

Configuration

Environment variables override config file values:

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

Contributing

See CONTRIBUTING.md.

Security

See SECURITY.md.

License

MIT