Overview
OpenClaw is a self-hosted personal AI assistant that runs on your own hardware and connects to the messaging apps you already use. By connecting MoonPay CLI to OpenClaw via MCP, you can execute crypto operations from any of those channels, from any device, without ever opening a separate app.
Send a message from your preferred app, and your agent handles swaps, bridges, price checks, or sends crypto — then replies with the result.
Tip: New to MoonPay CLI? Get installed and authenticated first with MoonPay CLI for AI agents before following this guide.
Key benefits
Control from anywhere — Execute crypto operations from WhatsApp, Telegram, iMessage, Slack, Discord, Signal, and more
Local-first security — Your Gateway runs on your hardware, MoonPay CLI signs transactions on your device, and your private keys stay in your OS keychain
Always available — The daemon runs as a persistent system service, so your assistant is ready whenever you need it
Natural language interface — Ask questions and execute transactions using plain English from any connected channel
Before you begin
This guide assumes you have Node.js installed and can run npm install commands. You'll install two tools — OpenClaw and MoonPay CLI — then wire them together so your messaging apps can talk to your local crypto agent.
Step 1: Install OpenClaw
Install OpenClaw globally and run the onboarding wizard:
npm install -g openclaw@latest
openclaw onboard --install-daemon
The wizard walks you through Gateway setup (a local WebSocket server), workspace configuration, connecting your messaging channels, and installing skills.
Note: The OpenClaw daemon uses launchd on macOS and systemd on Linux. Windows is not currently supported for daemon-based installation.
Step 2: Install MoonPay CLI
Install MoonPay CLI globally, then log in and create your wallet:
npm install -g @moonpay/cli
mp login
mp wallet create MyWallet
Verify your wallet was created successfully:
mp wallet list
Step 3: Connect MoonPay as an MCP server
Add MoonPay CLI as an MCP server in your OpenClaw configuration. You can do this during onboarding or any time afterward by editing your OpenClaw config file directly.
In your OpenClaw config (YAML):
mcp:
servers:
- name: moonpay
command: mp
args:
- mcp
Note: YAML is indentation-sensitive. Use spaces, not tabs, and make sure the moonpay server entry is correctly indented under servers.
Then restart the daemon to pick up the change:
openclaw restart
Step 4: Install MoonPay skills
Skills give your OpenClaw agent specialized knowledge about MoonPay CLI — what commands to run, how to interpret results, and how to guide you through flows like DCA setup or fiat onramps. Install them with:
mp skill install
This installs all MoonPay skills into ~/.claude/skills/ (compatible with both Claude Code and OpenClaw's Pi agent runtime).
Note: Skills are installed to ~/.claude/skills/ and are compatible with both Claude Code and OpenClaw's Pi agent runtime. You don't need Claude Code installed for OpenClaw to use them.
Step 5: Pair your messaging channel
OpenClaw supports pairing via DM. The pairing flow works the same way across supported channels — here's how to do it in Telegram:
Find your OpenClaw bot
Send
/pairFollow the pairing flow
Important: Only paired channels can send commands to your agent. Messages from unpaired channels are blocked by default. Complete the pairing flow for each channel before sending commands.
Once paired, messages you send go directly to your local AI agent, which has MoonPay CLI available as a tool.
What you can do from your messaging app
From Telegram, WhatsApp, iMessage, or any connected channel, try asking your agent things like:
Check your portfolio — "What's in my wallet?"
Execute a swap — "Swap 50 USDC to SOL"
Bridge tokens — "Bridge 0.1 ETH from Ethereum to Base"
Research a token — "Is [token address] on Solana safe to buy?"
Set up DCA — "Help me set up weekly ETH purchases of $50"
Check a prediction market — "What are the current odds on the next Fed rate cut on Polymarket?"
Your agent runs the MoonPay CLI commands locally, signs transactions on your device, and replies to the message with results.
Tip: Want to go further? See Use case: The autonomous trader for examples of automated strategies you can run through your OpenClaw agent.
Security architecture
OpenClaw is local-first by design. Your Gateway runs on your hardware, MoonPay CLI signs transactions on your device, and your private keys stay in your OS keychain. Messages from unpaired channels are treated as untrusted by default.
This gives you the convenience of messaging-based crypto control with the security of a self-custodied local wallet.
Important: On macOS, the daemon must run as your user account, not as root. Running as root will prevent the OS keychain from being accessible and cause transaction signing to fail.
Troubleshooting
MoonPay tools not showing up
Run mp mcp directly to confirm the server starts cleanly. Check your OpenClaw config YAML for syntax errors.
Authentication errors
Run mp login to refresh credentials. Tokens expire and need periodic renewal.
Transaction signing fails
Confirm your wallet exists with mp wallet list. Ensure the OS keychain is accessible (on macOS, this requires the daemon to run as your user, not root).