> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://www.helius.dev/docs/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Helius for Agents > Everything AI agents need to build on Solana with Helius: programmatic signup, API access, SDKs, MCP integration, and recommended workflows. Helius provides first-class support for AI agents building on Solana. From programmatic account creation to real-time data streaming, agents can access the full power of Helius without any manual intervention. * [Helius MCP](/docs/agents/mcp) — 10 routed tools that cover querying the blockchain, sending transactions, streaming, and more * [Claude Code Plugin](/docs/agents/claude-code-plugin) — The first, and currently the only, official Claude Code plugin from a crypto company. One install: MCP servers + skills + reference files * [Skills](/docs/agents/skills/overview) — Expert instruction sets for Claude: [Build](/docs/agents/skills/build), [Phantom](/docs/agents/skills/phantom), [Jupiter](/docs/agents/skills/jupiter), [DFlow](/docs/agents/skills/dflow), [OKX](/docs/agents/skills/okx), [SVM](/docs/agents/skills/svm) * [TypeScript SDK](/docs/agents/typescript-sdk) — Type-safe methods for all Helius APIs * [Rust SDK](/docs/agents/rust-sdk) — High-performance Rust SDK for Helius APIs * [Helius CLI](/docs/agents/cli) — Account management and shell scripting A machine-readable version of this section is available at [agents/llms.txt](https://www.helius.dev/docs/agents/llms.txt) for AI agent consumption. ## MCP vs CLI The [Helius MCP server](/docs/agents/mcp) is the recommended way for AI agents to interact with Helius. It provides 10 routed tools that give AI direct, structured access to Solana — no shell commands, no output parsing, no manual API calls. | | [MCP](/docs/agents/mcp) | [CLI](/docs/agents/cli) | | ----------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Best for** | AI agents in Claude Code, Cursor, Claude Desktop, and any MCP-compatible tool | Shell scripts, CI/CD pipelines, terminal workflows | | **Interface** | Structured tool calls with typed inputs/outputs | Command-line with `--json` output | | **Capabilities** | 10 routed tools (`heliusWallet`, `heliusAsset`, `heliusTransaction`, …) covering blockchain queries, transactions, webhooks, streaming, wallet analysis, docs, and signup | 95+ commands: same capabilities plus config management and interactive flows | | **Account setup** | Built-in: `heliusAccount` actions `generateKeypair` → `signup` (link or autopay) — no external tools needed | `helius keygen` → `helius signup` | | **When to use** | Default choice for any AI agent | When you need shell-level automation or are not using an MCP-compatible tool | **Start with MCP.** If your AI tool supports MCP (Claude Code, Cursor, Claude Desktop, etc.), use the [MCP server](/docs/agents/mcp) or the [Claude Code Plugin](/docs/agents/claude-code-plugin). The CLI is useful for shell scripting and CI/CD, but for AI-driven workflows the MCP provides a more seamless experience — the AI calls tools directly rather than spawning shell commands and parsing output. ## Quick Start: Agent Signup Agents can create a Helius account and get an API key in four steps using the [Helius CLI](/docs/agents/cli): ```bash theme={"system"} npm install -g helius-cli # Install CLI helius keygen # Generate keypair # (Autopay only) Fund wallet with 1 USDC + ~0.001 SOL — skip if paying via the hosted link helius signup --email you@example.com --first-name Jane --last-name Doe --json # Get API key (JSON output) ``` On success, your agent receives an API key, RPC endpoints, and 1,000,000 credits. See the [full CLI guide](/docs/agents/cli) for details. ## Authentication All Helius API requests require an API key passed as a query parameter: ``` ?api-key=YOUR_API_KEY ``` Append this to any RPC or API endpoint. For example: `https://mainnet.helius-rpc.com/?api-key=YOUR_API_KEY` Get an API key from the [Helius Dashboard](https://dashboard.helius.dev) or programmatically via the [Helius CLI](/docs/agents/cli). **Use Gatekeeper for lower latency** — [Gatekeeper (Beta)](/docs/gatekeeper/overview) removes Cloudflare from the critical path, reducing response times by tens to hundreds of milliseconds. Same API key, same methods — just swap the endpoint: ``` https://beta.helius-rpc.com/?api-key=YOUR_API_KEY wss://beta.helius-rpc.com/?api-key=YOUR_API_KEY ``` Supports all RPC, DAS, WebSocket, ZK Compression, Priority Fee, and Enhanced Transaction methods. See the [migration guide](/docs/gatekeeper/migration-guide) for details. ## Helius-Specific API Guidance Use these Helius-optimized APIs instead of chaining standard Solana RPC methods: | If you need... | Use this | Why | | ------------------------------------------------------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Filtered history, backfill, or token-account activity | [`getTransactionsForAddress`](/docs/rpc/gettransactionsforaddress) | Filters and pagination; use `transactionDetails: "full"` only when raw transaction and metadata objects are needed (`filters.tokenAccounts` defaults to `none`) | | Wallet-centric activity with per-transaction balance changes | [Wallet API History](/docs/wallet-api/history) (beta) | Wallet-oriented REST response — not equivalent to GTFA filtered backfill or raw full transaction objects | | Transfer-level SOL/token records | [`getTransfersByAddress`](/docs/rpc/gettransfersbyaddress) | Normalized transfers — not full transaction objects | | New parsed human-readable history | [Parsed Events](/docs/parsed-events) | Prefer over legacy [Enhanced Transactions](/docs/enhanced-transactions/overview); GTFA is not the Enhanced response format | | Rich wallet asset metadata | [`getAssetsByOwner`](/docs/api-reference/das/getassetsbyowner) (DAS API) | Returns rich metadata, not just raw token accounts; fungible SPL/Token-2022 holdings require the method-specific `showFungible` option | | Priority fee estimates | [`getPriorityFeeEstimate`](/docs/api-reference/priority-fee/getpriorityfeeestimate) | Pre-calculated optimal fees, no manual computation | | Compressed-NFT transaction history | [`getSignaturesForAsset`](/docs/api-reference/das/getsignaturesforasset) (DAS API) | Standard address-based RPC does not include compressed-NFT history | | NFT search | [`searchAssets`](/docs/api-reference/das/searchassets) or [`getAssetsByGroup`](/docs/api-reference/das/getassetsbygroup) | Faster, cheaper, indexed data | | Real-time data | [LaserStream WebSocket](/docs/rpc/websocket), [LaserStream gRPC](/docs/laserstream), or [Webhooks](/docs/webhooks) | Persistent streams or HTTP callbacks without polling | | High-throughput backend streaming with replay | [LaserStream gRPC Subscribe](/docs/api-reference/laserstream/grpc/subscribe) (SDK `subscribe`) | Browser/UI WSS uses LaserStream WebSocket; MCP `laserstreamSubscribe` generates config/examples only — it does not open a live stream | | Low-latency transaction submission | [Helius Sender](/docs/sending-transactions/sender) | Multi-path routing (Helius, Jito, Harmonic, Rakurai, etc.), higher landing rates | ## Recommended Workflows | Building... | Helius Products to Use | | ------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Trading bot | [Gatekeeper](/docs/gatekeeper/overview) (lowest latency RPC) + [Sender](/docs/sending-transactions/sender) (fast tx submission) + [Priority Fee API](/docs/priority-fee-api) + [LaserStream](/docs/laserstream) (real-time prices) | | Wallet app | [DAS API](/docs/das-api) for asset ownership and metadata + [Wallet API History](/docs/wallet-api/history) (beta activity with balance changes) or [`getTransactionsForAddress`](/docs/rpc/gettransactionsforaddress) for filtered history, backfill, token-account activity, or raw full transaction objects | | NFT marketplace | [DAS API](/docs/das-api) (`searchAssets`, `getAssetsByGroup`) + [Webhooks](/docs/webhooks) (track sales/listings) | | Token sniper | [Gatekeeper](/docs/gatekeeper/overview) (edge-routed RPC) + [LaserStream gRPC](/docs/laserstream) (lowest latency) + [Sender](/docs/sending-transactions/sender) (staked connections) | | Portfolio tracker | [Wallet API Balances](/docs/wallet-api/balances) (beta portfolio summaries) + [DAS API](/docs/das-api) (`getAssetsByOwner` with method-specific `showFungible`) for NFT/metadata inventory | | Wallet monitor | [LaserStream WebSocket](/docs/rpc/websocket) or [Webhooks](/docs/webhooks) for real-time notifications | | Analytics dashboard | [`getTransactionsForAddress`](/docs/rpc/gettransactionsforaddress) for filtered backfill; [Parsed Events](/docs/parsed-events) for new parsed integrations; [Enhanced Transactions](/docs/enhanced-transactions/overview) only for existing parsed integrations | | Airdrop tool | [AirShip](https://airship.helius.dev) (95% cheaper with ZK compression) | When using [Wallet API Balances](/docs/wallet-api/balances) for portfolio summaries: the API is beta; tokens are limited to 100 per page; NFTs are excluded unless `showNfts=true` (at most 100 NFTs on the first page only); `pricePerToken` and `usdValue` may be null; prices are hourly estimates, not real-time market prices; `totalUsdValue` covers the current page, not the full paginated portfolio; each request costs 100 credits. Use paginated DAS for complete NFT inventory and metadata — do not treat Balances as a full NFT inventory. ## Rate Limits Quick Reference Rate limits depend on your [plan](/docs/billing/plans). Agents start on the Agent tier with 1,000,000 credits. The Agent tier requires a \$1 payment to prevent abuse. | Plan | Price | Monthly Credits | RPC Rate Limit | DAS & Enhanced APIs | | ------------ | ---------- | --------------- | -------------- | ------------------- | | Agent | \$1 signup | 1M | 10 req/s | 2 req/s | | Developer | \$49/mo | 10M | 50 req/s | 10 req/s | | Business | \$499/mo | 100M | 200 req/s | 50 req/s | | Professional | \$999/mo | 200M | 500 req/s | 100 req/s | For detailed rate limits per API, see [Rate Limits](/docs/billing/rate-limits). ## Credits Per API Call | API | Credits | Notes | | --------------------------- | ------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Standard RPC calls | 1 | Most Solana RPC methods | | `getProgramAccounts` | 10 | Use DAS API instead when possible | | DAS API | 10 | All DAS endpoints | | Enhanced Transactions | 100 | Parsed transaction data | | `getTransactionsForAddress` | 10+ | Full transactions cost 10 credits per 100 returned; signatures-only responses cost 10 credits flat. | | `getTransfersByAddress` | 10 | Developer+ plans only | | Wallet API | 100 | All Wallet API endpoints | | Priority Fee API | 1 | Fee estimation | | Sender | 0 | Free on all plans | | Webhook events | 1 | Per event delivered | | Webhook management | 100 | Create, edit, delete | For the full breakdown, see [Credits](/docs/billing/credits). ## Retries and Error Handling ### HTTP Status Codes | Code | Meaning | Action | | ---- | ------------ | ------------------------------ | | 200 | Success | Process response | | 400 | Bad request | Fix request parameters | | 401 | Unauthorized | Check API key | | 429 | Rate limited | Back off and retry | | 5xx | Server error | Retry with exponential backoff | ### Retry Pattern ```typescript theme={"system"} async function heliusRequest(url: string, data: object, maxRetries = 3) { for (let attempt = 0; attempt < maxRetries; attempt++) { const response = await fetch(url, { method: 'POST', headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' }, body: JSON.stringify(data), }); if (response.ok) return response.json(); if (response.status === 429) { const retryAfter = response.headers.get('Retry-After'); const delay = retryAfter ? parseInt(retryAfter) * 1000 : Math.pow(2, attempt) * 1000; await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, delay)); continue; } if (response.status >= 500) { await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, Math.pow(2, attempt) * 1000)); continue; } throw new Error(`Request failed: ${response.status} ${await response.text()}`); } throw new Error('Max retries exceeded'); } ``` ### Monitor Credit Usage ```bash theme={"system"} helius usage --json ``` ## Quick Reference * **Mainnet RPC**: `https://mainnet.helius-rpc.com/?api-key=YOUR_API_KEY` * **Mainnet RPC (Gatekeeper Beta)**: `https://beta.helius-rpc.com/?api-key=YOUR_API_KEY` * **Devnet RPC**: `https://devnet.helius-rpc.com/?api-key=YOUR_API_KEY` * **Mainnet WSS**: `wss://mainnet.helius-rpc.com/?api-key=YOUR_API_KEY` * **Mainnet WSS (Gatekeeper Beta)**: `wss://beta.helius-rpc.com/?api-key=YOUR_API_KEY` * **Devnet WSS**: `wss://devnet.helius-rpc.com/?api-key=YOUR_API_KEY` * **Sender endpoint**: `https://sender.helius-rpc.com/fast` * **MCP server**: `https://www.helius.dev/docs/mcp` * **Dashboard**: [dashboard.helius.dev](https://dashboard.helius.dev) * **Status**: [helius.statuspage.io](https://helius.statuspage.io)