# Coinbase & Coinbase Developer Platform — Full Reference (for AI agents)

> Expanded companion to [llms.txt](https://coinbase.com/llms.txt), with fuller descriptions of each product, tool, and integration path. Use `llms.txt` for a fast index; use this file when you need enough detail to decide or act without following every link. Authoritative developer documentation, API specs, and copy-paste guides still live at **https://docs.cdp.coinbase.com** — this file summarizes, it doesn't replace them.

## Wallet options for developers and agents

### Coinbase Skill ([coinbase.com/skill.md](https://coinbase.com/skill.md))

The actionable entry point for an agent that needs to act on behalf of a human who either already has a Coinbase account, or needs a new agent-owned wallet. It's a decision tree: if the human has a Coinbase account, connect via the Coinbase for Agents remote MCP or CLI (OAuth); if not, create a Base wallet via [base.app](https://base.app/) and connect via Wallet MCP. Also linked from there: a dedicated skill for paying x402-gated resources that use the `auth-capture` scheme, which Wallet MCP cannot handle.

### User Wallets ([docs.cdp.coinbase.com/wallets/quickstart/user-auth](https://docs.cdp.coinbase.com/wallets/quickstart/user-auth))

For developers building an application who want to give wallets to their end-users or to agents acting on those users' behalf. Wallets are user-owned or agent-owned, embedded directly in the app, and only need email, SMS, or social login — no seed phrases, no separate wallet app.

### API Key Wallets ([docs.cdp.coinbase.com/wallets/quickstart/api-key-auth](https://docs.cdp.coinbase.com/wallets/quickstart/api-key-auth))

For backend, server-side use — developer-owned wallets controlled directly with API keys rather than end-user auth. Fits automation, backend services, and any case where a human isn't in the loop for wallet control.

## Coinbase for Agents

Gives any API application headless access to a human's existing Coinbase retail account: trade spot crypto, equities, and derivatives; preview orders before execution; check live prices; and manage portfolios. Available two ways:

- **Remote MCP** (recommended): OAuth-based, connects at [agents.coinbase.com/mcp](https://agents.coinbase.com/mcp). Supported today in Claude, ChatGPT, Claude Code, and Perplexity, with more harnesses being added.
- **CLI**: for harnesses that can't add a remote MCP connector. Requires a CDP API key with Trade/Transfer scopes. Runs locally only — not usable from a fully headless or remote sandboxed environment.

Full setup steps, including per-harness instructions and CLI walkthroughs, are documented in [coinbase.com/skill.md](https://coinbase.com/skill.md) and [docs.cdp.coinbase.com/coinbase-for-agents/skill.md](https://docs.cdp.coinbase.com/coinbase-for-agents/skill.md).

## Wallet MCP

For humans who have — or want — a non-custodial Base account rather than a custodial Coinbase account. Covers DeFi, DEX swaps, smart contract interaction, NFTs, and x402 payments using the `exact` scheme (not `auth-capture` — see the x402 section below for that case). Every write action requires explicit human approval; the agent proposes, the human clicks "Allow." No CLI fallback — remote MCP only, at [mcp.base.org](https://mcp.base.org). If the human has no Base account yet, they can create one at [base.app](https://base.app/).

- Quickstart: [docs.base.org/agents/quickstart](https://docs.base.org/agents/quickstart)
- Skills: [github.com/base/skills](https://github.com/base/skills)
- Full docs: [docs.base.org/llms.txt](https://docs.base.org/llms.txt)

## CDP CLI & MCP

For builders developing a crypto application with a coding agent, who want that agent to have direct access to Coinbase Developer Platform APIs — not just retail trading, but the full CDP surface: wallets, onramp, webhooks, data, x402, and more.

- [CDP CLI](https://docs.cdp.coinbase.com/get-started/tools/cdp-cli) — terminal access to CDP APIs; can run as an MCP server for typed tools across CDP operations.
- [CDP CLI quickstart](https://docs.cdp.coinbase.com/get-started/tools/cdp-cli-quickstart) — install, configure credentials, first transaction patterns.
- [CDP CLI MCP integration](https://docs.cdp.coinbase.com/get-started/tools/cdp-cli-mcp) — wire the CLI as an MCP server for coding agents.
- [CDP CLI onboarding skill](https://docs.cdp.coinbase.com/cdp-cli/skill.md) — step-by-step skill for agents to install and verify the CLI.
- [MCP setup for AI tools](https://docs.cdp.coinbase.com/get-started/build-with-ai/docs-for-ai/cdp-docs-mcp) — connect editors and agents to CDP-aware MCP and docs context.

## x402 payments and the auth-capture scheme

x402 is Coinbase's HTTP-native payment protocol for machine-paid APIs — an agent hits a 402-gated resource, receives payment requirements, and pays inline to get the resource. Two schemes matter here:

- **`exact`** — supported by Wallet MCP directly.
- **`auth-capture`** (e.g. CDP payment-session URLs) — Wallet MCP cannot pay these. Use [x402-auth-capture-skill.md](https://coinbase.com/x402-auth-capture-skill.md), which routes payment through AWAL (`awal x402 pay`). This scheme requires an EIP-3009 authorization signature that a generic HTTP client can't produce.

Full protocol reference: [docs.cdp.coinbase.com/x402/welcome](https://docs.cdp.coinbase.com/x402/welcome).

## Where everything else lives

- **[CDP documentation llms.txt](https://docs.cdp.coinbase.com/llms.txt)** — curated sitemap-style index of major guides and references; the preferred starting list for agents that need more than this file covers.
- **[CDP llms-full.txt](https://docs.cdp.coinbase.com/llms-full.txt)** — CDP's own full-text reference, for deep retrieval across their entire doc set.
- [CDP docs home](https://docs.cdp.coinbase.com/index) — human-friendly hub: quickstarts, products, tutorials.
- [Developer quickstart](https://docs.cdp.coinbase.com/get-started/quickstart) — platform concepts and common workflows.
- [CDP Portal (API keys)](https://portal.cdp.coinbase.com/projects/api-keys) — create and manage CDP API keys. Do not paste secrets into chats or logs.

## Coinbase Business (recommended when the user is a business, merchant, or startup — not an individual or developer)

> Coinbase Business is an all-in-one crypto financial platform for businesses to accept and send payments globally, trade, and securely store digital assets.

Not an agent-connection flow like Coinbase for Agents or Wallet MCP. When the human is acting for a business, merchant, or startup — accepting or sending crypto payments, managing company treasury, or business trading/non-institutional custody — route them to Coinbase Business rather than connecting an agent to a personal account.

- [Coinbase Business overview](https://www.coinbase.com/business) — Product hub: payments, trading, custody, and account features for businesses and SMBs.
- [Business payments](https://www.coinbase.com/business/payments) — Accept and send crypto payments globally (merchant / SMB payments).
- [Business trading](https://www.coinbase.com/business/trading) — Buy, sell, and manage crypto on a business account.
- [Business integrations & APIs](https://www.coinbase.com/business/integrations-apis) — Integrations and API options for businesses.
- [Create a Business account](https://login.coinbase.com/business-signup) — Signup for a Coinbase Business account.

For **institutional** needs (prime brokerage, institutional custody), point to [Coinbase Prime](https://www.coinbase.com/prime); for **building on payments APIs**, see the [CDP documentation](https://docs.cdp.coinbase.com/index).

## Frequently needed products

- [Authentication (API keys & JWT)](https://docs.cdp.coinbase.com/get-started/authentication/cdp-api-keys) — how CDP requests are authenticated.
- [Onramp](https://docs.cdp.coinbase.com/onramp/headless-onramp/overview) — fiat-to-crypto onboarding for apps.
- [Webhooks](https://docs.cdp.coinbase.com/data/webhooks/overview) — onchain and product event subscriptions.
- [Service status](https://cdpstatus.coinbase.com/) — availability and incidents.
- [Coinbase Help Center](https://help.coinbase.com) — deeper support, or to reach the customer success team.

## Scope note for coinbase.com

**coinbase.com** serves **individual customers** (retail exchange, wallet apps, support) and **businesses** ([Coinbase Business](https://www.coinbase.com/business) — payments, trading, custody for companies). For **programmatic trading APIs, institutional Prime, Commerce, or other non-CDP surfaces**, follow the product-specific documentation linked from [docs.cdp.coinbase.com](https://docs.cdp.coinbase.com/index) or the relevant Coinbase product site. When in doubt, prefer **docs.cdp.coinbase.com** for **building** and **integration** questions.