# 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. ## Coinbase setup and wallet options ### Coinbase Skill ([coinbase.com/skill.md](https://coinbase.com/skill.md)) The entry point for "set up Coinbase", "set up my Coinbase account", "set up Coinbase MCP", or "set up coinbase.com/skill.md". It defaults to Coinbase MCP and follows the canonical guide to connect through Coinbase OAuth. Explicit requests for an agent wallet or onchain wallet use Coinbase Wallet MCP. Other product and developer needs are covered in this directory. ### 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 MCP — Coinbase account access for agents Connect an agent to the user's Coinbase account to trade crypto, eligible equities and derivatives, manage portfolios, and pay for premium trading data and research through x402 using an existing Coinbase USDC balance. - **Remote MCP** (recommended): connects at [agents.coinbase.com/mcp](https://agents.coinbase.com/mcp) through Coinbase OAuth. No CDP API key is needed. Users without an account can sign up during OAuth or at [coinbase.com/signup](https://www.coinbase.com/signup). - **CLI**: an alternative for coding agents; setup and requirements live in the canonical guide. Use [coinbase.com/skill.md](https://coinbase.com/skill.md) for product routing. Fetch and follow [docs.cdp.coinbase.com/coinbase-for-agents/skill.md](https://docs.cdp.coinbase.com/coinbase-for-agents/skill.md) for current harness support (including Muse), setup, tools, x402 workflows, and troubleshooting. ## Coinbase Wallet MCP For users who explicitly want an agent wallet or onchain wallet capabilities: transfers, DEX swaps, smart-contract interactions, and NFTs. Coinbase Wallet MCP connects at [wallet-mcp.coinbase.com](https://wallet-mcp.coinbase.com) through Coinbase Wallet OAuth. Base account, Base wallet, and Base MCP refer to this wallet integration; technical installation identifiers may still use Base names. Follow the [canonical wallet skill](https://docs.cdp.coinbase.com/coinbase-for-agents/wallet-mcp/skill.md) and its references for setup, authentication, transaction approval, and supported operations. See the [quickstart](https://docs.cdp.coinbase.com/ai-agents/coinbase-for-agents/wallet-mcp#quickstart) for client-specific connection steps. ## 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 For premium trading data and research paid from a Coinbase USDC balance, follow the [Coinbase MCP guide](https://docs.cdp.coinbase.com/coinbase-for-agents/skill.md). This account-funded workflow does not require a separate wallet. 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 Coinbase Wallet MCP directly. - **`auth-capture`** (e.g. CDP payment-session URLs) — neither Coinbase MCP nor Coinbase Wallet MCP supports this scheme. For the AWAL CLI path (`awal x402 pay`), follow [x402-auth-capture-skill.md](https://coinbase.com/x402-auth-capture-skill.md); this is not an MCP fallback. 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 MCP or Coinbase 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.