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cdp-setup

Set up the CDP CLI: install, configure API key and wallet secret, verify.

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Steps

1. Check Node.js: node --version — must be >= 22. If missing or too old, install from https://nodejs.org/en/download Warning (nvm/fnm users): If you upgrade your default Node version, globally installed tools (e.g., Claude Code) will need to be reinstalled since each Node version has its own global packages. After upgrading, open a new terminal and reinstall any global tools you had on the previous version.
2. Linux only — install keyring support (prevents secrets from being stored in plaintext):
   which secret-tool || sudo apt install -y libsecret-tools
   
3. Check if cdp is installed:
   cdp --version
   
   If not found:
   npm i -g @coinbase/cdp-cli
   
4. Create a CDP project and API key:

   Go to https://portal.cdp.coinbase.com/api-keys/secret

   • Sign in (a project is auto-created on first sign-in).
   • Click Create API Key → Download the JSON key file.
   • Provide the path to the downloaded file.

   cdp env live --key-file <path>
   
5. Generate a wallet secret (required for non-custodial wallet operations):

   Go to https://portal.cdp.coinbase.com/wallets/non-custodial/security

   • Click Generate Wallet Secret → Download the file.

   cdp env live --wallet-secret-file <path>
   
6. Verify:
   cdp env
   
   Assert: live appears with key ID and (wallet) indicator.
   cdp evm accounts list
   
   Assert: returns JSON (no auth error). May return {"accounts":[]}.
7. Quick test — create and fund an account (optional):
   cdp evm accounts create name=test-wallet
   
   Non-custodial wallet accounts are network-agnostic — the same address works on any EVM network.
   cdp evm faucet address=<address> network=base-sepolia token=eth
   
   Faucet tokens: eth, usdc, eurc, cbbtc. Solana: cdp solana faucet address=<addr> token=sol.
8. Set up MCP server (optional — gives your agent direct tool access to all CDP APIs): The CDP CLI includes an MCP server (cdp mcp) that exposes every API endpoint as a tool. Claude Code:
   claude mcp add --scope user --transport stdio cdp -- cdp mcp
   
   Other agents — add to your agent’s MCP config (format varies by agent):
   { "command": "cdp", "args": ["mcp"], "transport": "stdio" }
   
9. Install agent skills (optional):
   cdp skills add
   
   If non-interactive, determine your agent’s skills directory and pass it:
   cdp skills add --dir <skills-directory>
   
10. Codex users: If not running with --sandbox danger-full-access (full access mode), the default sandbox cannot access OS keychain secrets. Options:
    • Prompt Codex to run cdp commands with “elevated access” (safest)
    • Or use the cdp mcp server instead of direct CLI commands (MCP has expected keychain access in Codex)
11. Troubleshooting:

• “Must use a CDP Entity scoped API key” → need a v2 portal key, not legacy
• “Wallet authentication error” → wallet secret missing or incorrect
• “forbidden” → API key permissions issue
• After upgrading Node via nvm/fnm → open a new terminal, reinstall global tools that were on the old version
• Windows: cdp not found after npm i -g → add npm’s global bin to PATH: %APPDATA%\npm