Overview
The Model Context Protocol (MCP) is an open standard that lets AI assistants use external tools natively. MoonPay CLI ships as an MCP server, which means any MCP-compatible AI can execute crypto operations directly: swaps, bridges, balance checks, fiat on/off ramps, and more. This guide covers setup for Claude Code, Claude Desktop, and OpenClaw.
Key benefits
Execute crypto operations without leaving your AI assistant — no browser or wallet pop-ups required
Natural language commands for swaps, bridges, balance checks, and fiat transactions
Works with multiple AI platforms, including Claude Code, Claude Desktop, and OpenClaw
Prerequisites
Before connecting MoonPay to your AI assistant, ensure you have:
Node.js v18 or higher
MoonPay CLI installed — run npm install -g @moonpay/cli
A MoonPay account (free) — run mp login
A local wallet created or imported — run mp wallet create MyWallet
Verify your setup by running:
mp wallet list
Claude Code setup
Claude Code reads MCP server configuration from .claude/settings.json in your project or from the global ~/.claude/settings.json.
Add MoonPay CLI as an MCP server
Add the following configuration:
{
"mcpServers": {
"moonpay": {
"command": "mp",
"args": ["mcp"]
}
}
}
Verify the connection
Restart Claude Code
Ask: "What MoonPay tools do you have available?"
Claude Desktop setup
Configure MoonPay as an MCP server
Open Claude Desktop
Go to Settings → Developer → Edit Config
Add to your
claude_desktop_config.json:{
"mcpServers": {
"moonpay": {
"command": "mp",
"args": ["mcp"]
}
}
}Restart Claude Desktop
MoonPay tools will appear in the tools panel.
Verify it works
Try these prompts in any connected AI:
"Check the balance of my wallet"
"What's the current price of SOL?"
"Swap 10 USDC to ETH on Base"
"Show me trending tokens on Solana"
The AI will call MoonPay tools, execute the operation, and return results — no browser or wallet pop-ups required.
What you can do via MCP
Once connected, you can use natural language to:
Action | Example prompt |
Check balances | "What's in my wallet?" |
Swap tokens | "Swap 0.1 SOL to USDC" |
Bridge across chains | "Bridge 50 USDC from Ethereum to Base" |
Buy crypto | "Buy $100 of ETH" |
Research tokens | "Is this token safe? [address]" |
Trade prediction markets | "Buy 10 shares of Yes on this Polymarket market" |
Set price alerts | "Alert me when BTC hits $100k" |
Export data | "Export my transaction history to CSV" |