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The Etherscan MCP server connects AI agents to live onchain data across all 60+ supported chains, over MCP. Connect it to a client like Claude Desktop, Claude Code, or Codex, then ask in plain language and get answers grounded in real Etherscan API responses.
The Etherscan MCP
One connection covers every chain, just pass the chainid. Ask about Arbitrum and the agent uses chainid=42161. See Supported chains for the full list.
Etherscan runs two official MCP servers: https://mcp.etherscan.io/mcp and https://mcp-keyless.etherscan.io/mcp. Listings on MCP marketplaces or directories that call themselves “Etherscan MCP” are unofficial and unaffiliated with Etherscan. Do not paste your API key into them.

Connection details

Etherscan runs two servers, both over the Streamable HTTP transport. The authenticated server uses your API key and has every tool. The keyless server needs no API key and has limited tools and rate limits.

Get started

The steps below connect the authenticated server. First, create a free API key if you do not have one. Then pick your client below and follow it end to end. Or use the keyless server without an API key, with limited tools and rate limits: use https://mcp-keyless.etherscan.io/mcp as the URL and leave out the API key.
Claude Desktop is Anthropic’s desktop chat app.
1

Add Etherscan to your config

In Claude Desktop, open Settings > Developer > Edit Config to open the claude_desktop_config.json file.
Claude Desktop Settings > Developer, showing the Edit Config button
In the file that opens, add the etherscan server (replace YourApiKey with your key):
claude_desktop_config.json
Requires Node.js.
2

Confirm it's connected

Save, then fully quit Claude Desktop and reopen it. Then open Settings > Developer and look for etherscan under Local MCP servers with a running badge.
Claude Desktop Settings > Developer showing the Etherscan MCP server with a running badge
3

Ask your first question

Ask in plain language and approve the tool calls when prompted:
In this example, it calls two tools:
  • get_transaction_by_hash for the sender, recipient, amount, and input data
  • get_transaction_receipt to confirm the transaction succeeded
It then answers with a one-line summary. Both tools work on the free API plan.
Claude Desktop giving a one-line summary of a USDT transfer via the Etherscan MCP, then adding Etherscan name tags: Bitstamp 61 sent 269,618.78 USDT to a Bitget deposit address
To label the addresses involved with their Etherscan name tags, follow up with:
This uses get_address_labels, a PRO+ tool available on the Pro Plus plan.

Example prompts

Ask in plain language and let the agent pick the tools. Copy one to try it:

Tools

The authenticated server exposes 21 tools. The keyless server exposes 16 of them, leaving out the five PRO tools, which require a paid plan. The agent selects and calls them for you; you rarely name a tool yourself.

Good to know

  • Read-only. Every tool reads public onchain data. Nothing signs or sends a transaction.
  • On the authenticated server, every tool call uses your API quota. Each MCP tool call makes one or more Etherscan API requests, and every request counts toward your API plan’s rate limits, exactly like calling the API directly. See Rate limits.
  • The keyless server is rate limited. Its limits are separate from API plans. For higher limits and PRO tools, use the authenticated server.
  • Guard against prompt injection. Enable your client’s human-confirmation prompts, and be cautious when combining Etherscan with other MCP servers in the same session.