
Get started
First, create a free API key if you do not have one. Then pick your client below and follow it end to end.- Claude Desktop
- Claude Code CLI
- Codex Desktop
- Codex CLI
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 
In the file that opens, add the Requires Node.js.
claude_desktop_config.json file.
etherscan server (replace YourApiKey with your key):claude_desktop_config.json
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.
3
Ask your first question
Ask in plain language and approve the tool calls when prompted:In this example, it calls two tools:
To label the addresses involved with their Etherscan name tags, follow up with:This uses
get_transaction_by_hashfor the sender, recipient, amount, and input dataget_transaction_receiptto confirm the transaction succeeded

get_address_labels, a Pro tool that requires a paid plan.Example prompts
Ask in plain language and let the agent pick the tools. Copy one to try it:Tools
The server exposes 20 tools. 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.
- 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.
- 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.




