GoldRush x402 Overview
Quick Reference
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Base URL | https://x402.goldrush.dev/v1 |
| Protocol | x402 (HTTP 402 Payment Required) |
| Authentication | None — wallet-based micropayments replace API keys |
| Payment Network | Base Sepolia testnet (Base mainnet coming soon) |
| Payment Method | Stablecoins on Base |
| Rate Limit | 100 requests/minute per wallet |
| Available Endpoints | 60+ Foundational API endpoints |
| Client Libraries | @x402/core, @x402/evm |
Pricing Model
- Fixed-Price: One price per call (e.g., token balances, NFT holdings)
- Tiered Pricing: For variable-length data — Small (1-50), Medium (51-200), Large (201-500), XL (501+)
- Response Caching: Cached responses cost less (TTLs: 30s for balances, 5m for pricing)
Response Headers
GoldRush x402 lets you access the full GoldRush blockchain data API by paying per request using the x402 protocol. No account, no API key, no billing page - just pay for exactly what you use, directly from a wallet.
Note: GoldRush x402 is live on Base Sepolia testnet. Mainnet support is coming soon.
What is x402?
HTTP status code402 Payment Required has existed since 1997, reserved for “future use.” The x402 protocol makes it real - enabling native payments over HTTP using stablecoins.
When you call a GoldRush x402 endpoint without payment, the server responds with 402 Payment Required along with payment instructions. Your client pays using stablecoins on Base, retries the request with proof of payment, and gets the data - all in a single request-response cycle.
How it works
GoldRush x402 is a transparent reverse proxy in front ofapi.covalenthq.com. It exposes the same paths and returns the same responses - the only difference is how you authenticate. Instead of an API key, you attach a micropayment.
What’s supported
- 60+ endpoints covering balances, NFTs, transactions, blocks, DEX data, pricing, security, and cross-chain operations
- 100+ blockchain networks including Ethereum, Base, Arbitrum, Optimism, Polygon, Solana, Bitcoin, and more
- Response caching with intelligent TTLs (30s for balances, 5m for pricing data) - cached responses cost less
- Per-wallet rate limiting at 100 requests per minute
- Request validation before payment - you never pay for a request that would fail
Pricing
Every endpoint has a credit rate. The price per call is:Fixed pricing
Most endpoints have a fixed cost per request. Token balances, NFT holdings, block details - one price, one call, one response.Dynamic pricing
Endpoints that return variable-length data (transaction histories, event logs) use tiered pricing. You select a tier upfront based on how much data you expect:| Tier | Items | You pay for … |
|---|---|---|
| Small | 1-50 | 50 items |
| Medium | 51-200 | 200 items |
| Large | 201-500 | 500 items |
| XL | 501+ | 1000 items |
402 telling you exactly which tier you need.
x402 vs API key
x402 (Pay-per-call): - No signup or account needed- Pay per request with a wallet
- Ideal for AI agents and autonomous workflows
- Live on Base Sepolia testnet
- API key for any project
- Ideal for apps with steady usage
- For Vibe Coders or Teams
1. Discover endpoints (free)
The discovery API requires no payment. Use it to explore available endpoints and pricing.2. Set up a wallet
You need a wallet with testnet USDC on Base Sepolia. You’ll use the wallet’s private key to sign x402 payments. Never commit your private key to source control. Use environment variables or a secrets manager.3. Install the x402 client
npm
yarn
4. Make your first request
402, it reads the payment instructions, signs a transaction, and retries. From your code’s perspective, it’s just a GET request.
5. Use tiers for variable-length data
Endpoints with dynamic pricing (transactions, event logs) require atier parameter:
| Tier | Items |
|---|---|
| Small | up to 50 |
| Medium | up to 200 |
| Large | up to 500 |
| XL | up to 1000 |
402 indicating the correct tier.