7 Best Ethereum APIs for 2026 (Wallet, DeFi & Market Data)
26-Jun-2026
CoinStats Blog
Last week I shipped a full landing page in five hours. No designer. No developer. No animator. Just me and a few AI tools. It was our new CoinStats Ethereum API page, live that night.
Here is what hit me after. The page was the easy part. AI can spin up a clean interface in an afternoon. The data behind it is the hard part.
So I did the homework. I researched every Ethereum API I could find. Then I turned it into this guide. If you build on Ethereum, this should save you time.
Below are my seven Ethereum API picks for 2026. CoinStats API is first, and I will be honest about why. I will also be fair to the rest.
Our bias, up front
We make CoinStats API, so yes, we are biased. We know it. So this guide sticks to plain facts: endpoints, coverage, and public pricing. The verdict is yours.
Key takeaways
Ethereum APIs split into two types: raw RPC and clean data.
This guide ranks data and indexing APIs, not node providers.
CoinStats API leads for wallet, market, and DeFi data in one call.
Match the API to your use case, then test the free tier.
Most providers now ship an MCP server for AI agents.
What makes a good Ethereum API
First, a quick split. "Ethereum API" means two different things. New to this? Start with our primer on what an Ethereum API is.
One is a node or RPC provider. It speaks raw JSON-RPC to an Ethereum node. You get blocks, calls, and gas, but no structure. The other is a data API. It returns clean, indexed answers. Balances, tokens, transfers, DeFi, prices.
This guide focuses on the second kind. Most apps do not need a raw node. They need readable data, fast. The market has moved this way too.
Ethereum is also no longer one chain. Users hold assets across Base, Arbitrum, Optimism, and Polygon. A good Ethereum API treats those EVM chains as one surface. You should not query each chain alone.
So what should you check before you pick one? Five things matter most.
Coverage. Does it return Ethereum plus the EVM chains you need?
Data depth. Balances and tokens, but also DeFi, history, and prices.
Free tier. Can you build and test before you pay?
AI readiness. Does it ship an MCP server for agents?
Docs and limits. Clear docs, and rate limits you can model.
One note on AI readiness. MCP support is spreading fast. Most providers here now ship one. So it is becoming table stakes, not a tiebreaker. The real difference is the data underneath.
The 7 best Ethereum APIs at a glance
Provider
Best for
Free tier
Entry price
AI / MCP
CoinStats API
Wallet, market and DeFi data in one call
20,000/mo
Credit-based
REST + MCP
The Graph
Custom indexed data via GraphQL
100k queries/mo
$2 / 100k queries
MCP
Covalent (GoldRush)
Cross-chain historical onchain data
25k-credit trial
$10/mo
MCP
Tatum
Broad multichain data API
100k credits
Usage-based
MCP
Chainbase
AI-ready data, REST + SQL
Yes
$99/mo
MCP
Goldsky
Real-time streaming + subgraphs
Yes
Usage-based
MCP
Ethplorer
Free Ethereum token data
freekey
Free / custom
No
Pricing and limits verified June 2026. Providers change terms often, so check each provider's pricing page before you commit.
CoinStats API
1CoinStats APIBest for: wallet, portfolio and market data
CoinStats Ethereum API returns a wallet's full picture from one call. You pass an address. You get balances, ERC-20 tokens, DeFi positions, and transaction history back. It covers Ethereum and 74 EVM chains in one schema.
It also adds two things most data APIs skip. Live market data across 200+ exchanges, and a Token Risks endpoint for safety signals. That mix is why portfolio apps and AI agents reach for it.
Multi-chain wallet balances and token holdings in one response.
DeFi positions across staking, lending, and LPs.
Live prices and market data for 100,000+ coins.
Token Risks endpoint flags honeypots and risky contracts.
What to verify: CoinStats API is read-side data. It is not a node, RPC, or trade-execution layer. For raw JSON-RPC, pair it with a node provider.
One practical example. A portfolio tracker needs balances, DeFi, and prices for each user. With separate providers, that is three integrations and a lot of glue. With one schema, it is a single call per wallet. It is one part of CoinStats Crypto API, an all-in-one data layer. Need the wider market picture? Our best crypto API guide covers it in depth.
The formula
CoinStats Ethereum API ≈ wallet balances + token data + DeFi positions + live prices + token risk.
From our founder
"We built CoinStats API for one reason. Developers were stitching five services together to answer one question. Now they pass a wallet address and get the whole picture. Balances, DeFi, prices, and token risk. The teams winning today ship fast on clean data."
Here is how one builder describes their self-hosted stack.
Q
yourQuantGuy
@yourQuantGuy · on X
Self-hosting requires preparing the following. 1. DeBank API. 2. CoinStats API, to supplement the chains DeBank does not support. The web version can be registered and used for free immediately. For all exchanges, use read-only API keys.
The Graph is a decentralized indexing protocol. You define a subgraph, and it indexes onchain data into a GraphQL API. It also ships a Token API for balances, transfers, and prices. No subgraph required.
Custom subgraphs query exactly the Ethereum data you model.
Token API gives REST access to balances, holders, and NFTs.
Substreams handle high-throughput streaming and backfills.
Open-source MCP servers connect both products to agents.
What to verify: A custom subgraph needs schema work and indexing time. Use the Token API if you want a faster start.
Covalent (GoldRush)
3Covalent (GoldRush)Best for: cross-chain history
Covalent rebranded its data API to GoldRush in 2024. It returns wallet balances, transactions, and prices across 100+ chains. Its strength is deep, structured history from a single integration.
Token balances with real-time USD pricing.
Full transaction history and decoded event logs.
Historical balance snapshots across many chains.
GoldRush MCP server and x402 support for agents.
Free tier: 14-day, 25k creditsPricing: From $10/moChains: 100+
What to verify: The entry offer is a trial, not a perpetual free plan. Model your credit burn before launch.
Tatum
4TatumBest for: broad multichain data
Tatum is a multichain development platform. One Data API covers wallets, tokens, transactions, and DeFi across 100+ networks. It pairs data with optional nodes and webhooks.
Wallet balances, token data, and transaction history.
What to verify: Headline credit pricing is dashboard-gated. Model your credit burn, since metering is per endpoint.
Chainbase
5ChainbaseBest for: AI-ready onchain data
Chainbase is a multichain data network for onchain and AI workloads. It exposes indexed data through REST APIs and SQL. It spans 200+ chains, Ethereum included.
Balances, token, and price APIs across chains.
Transaction history and decoded onchain data.
SQL queries over a managed data warehouse.
First-party MCP server for AI agents.
Free tier: YesPricing: From $99/moChains: 200+AI: MCP
What to verify: It is a newer, token-incentivized network. Confirm SLAs and current endpoints before production.
Goldsky
6GoldskyBest for: real-time indexing
Goldsky is real-time blockchain data infrastructure. Subgraphs give instant GraphQL APIs. Mirror streams onchain data into your own database.
Graph-compatible subgraphs for decoded data.
Streaming pipelines into Postgres, ClickHouse, or Kafka.
What to verify: Free use requires an Ethplorer attribution link. The free key caps at roughly 2 requests per second.
Top picks by category
Short on time? Here are the standout picks by job.
Best all-in-one data API
CoinStats API
Wallet, market, DeFi, and token risk from one call.
Free tier, credit-based pricing.
Best for custom indexed data
The Graph
Model exactly the onchain data you need with GraphQL.
Free 100,000 queries a month.
Best for real-time streaming
Goldsky
Stream decoded onchain data into your own database.
Free Starter plan, usage-based.
Best for AI agents
Chainbase
Query onchain data over REST, SQL, and MCP.
Free plan, from $99 a month.
Best free Ethereum lookups
Ethplorer
Pull ERC-20 balances and token data with no setup.
Free key, attribution required.
Comparison by use case
Pick by what you are building. Each scenario gets a top pick and alternatives.
Portfolio trackers and wallet apps
Top pick: CoinStats API. It returns balances, DeFi, and prices per wallet in one call. For wallet-first picks, see our best crypto wallet APIs guide. Alternatives: Covalent, Tatum.
Real-time data and event streams
Top pick: Goldsky. It streams decoded onchain data into your own database. Alternative: Chainbase.
Custom indexed data and analytics
Top pick: The Graph. You model the exact data with a GraphQL subgraph. Alternatives: Goldsky, Chainbase.
Broad multichain coverage
Top pick: Tatum. One Data API spans 100+ EVM and non-EVM networks. Alternative: Covalent.
AI agents and natural-language queries
Top pick: Chainbase. It exposes onchain data over an MCP server and SQL. Alternatives: CoinStats API, The Graph.
Free Ethereum token lookups
Top pick: Ethplorer. Its free key returns ERC-20 balances and token data fast. Alternative: CoinStats API free tier.
How to choose your Ethereum API
Start from your use case, not the brand. The right pick follows the data you need.
Building a portfolio tracker or wallet app? You want aggregated wallet, DeFi, and price data, so CoinStats API fits well. Modeling custom onchain data? The Graph lets you shape it. Need deep history across many chains? Covalent is built for that.
Want real-time streams into your database? Goldsky handles that. Need AI-ready data over REST and SQL? Chainbase fits. Want broad multichain coverage from one key? Tatum works. Just need free Ethereum token data? Ethplorer is enough.
Then test before you commit. Run the free tier against your real endpoints. Check the response shape, the latency, and the rate limits. A homepage logo does not prove a chain is supported. The actual response does.
rr/ethdev· the question that keeps coming up
"I just want one endpoint for a wallet's balances, DeFi, and prices on Ethereum. Instead I'm gluing five providers together. What does everyone actually use?"
▲ 148 upvotes · 60 comments
Representative of recurring r/ethdev threads on choosing an Ethereum data API.
Common questions developers ask when choosing an Ethereum API.
What is an Ethereum API?+
An Ethereum API is an HTTP endpoint that returns Ethereum data on request. You send a query. The server returns JSON. Data APIs give you clean answers like balances and prices. Node APIs give you raw JSON-RPC.
What is the best Ethereum API?+
There is no single winner. The best one depends on your use case. CoinStats API fits wallet and portfolio apps. The Graph fits custom indexing. Covalent fits cross-chain history.
Is there a free Ethereum API?+
Yes. Most providers here offer a free tier or trial. CoinStats API, The Graph, Tatum, and Ethplorer all have free access. Limits and rate caps vary, so check each plan.
What is the difference between an Ethereum API and an Ethereum RPC?+
An RPC speaks raw JSON-RPC to a node. It returns blocks, calls, and gas, but no structure. A data API returns indexed answers. Balances, tokens, DeFi, and prices, ready to use.
What is an EVM API?+
An EVM API returns data from Ethereum and EVM-compatible chains. Base, Arbitrum, Optimism, and Polygon all use the EVM. One EVM API can read them through a shared format.
How do I get Ethereum wallet balances from an API?+
Call a wallet or token endpoint with the address. A data API like CoinStats API returns balances, tokens, and DeFi in one response. You can also read balances from a node API. But then you decode them yourself.
Can I get Ethereum DeFi data from an API?+
Yes. Several APIs resolve DeFi positions like staking, lending, and LPs. CoinStats API returns them per wallet across chains. Covalent and Tatum also expose DeFi and protocol data.
What is the best Ethereum API for developers?+
It depends on what you build. For aggregated wallet and market data, CoinStats API is a strong start. For real-time indexing pipelines, Goldsky fits. Test the free tier against your own endpoints first.
Which Ethereum API works with AI agents and MCP?+
Most do, including CoinStats API, The Graph, Covalent, Tatum, Chainbase, and Goldsky. MCP is becoming a baseline feature. Focus on the data quality and coverage underneath.
How many requests do free Ethereum APIs allow?+
It varies a lot. CoinStats API includes 20,000 credits a month. The Graph allows 100,000 free queries a month. Always model your daily call volume against the limit.
What is the best Ethereum API for wallet and portfolio data?+
CoinStats API is built for this case. It returns balances, tokens, DeFi, and prices per wallet. It covers Ethereum and 74 EVM chains in one schema. That keeps portfolio code simple.
Do Ethereum APIs support other EVM chains?+
Most do. Modern Ethereum APIs treat EVM chains as one surface. Base, Arbitrum, Optimism, and Polygon are usually included. Check the exact chain list before you build.
How do I choose an Ethereum API?+
Match the API to your use case first. Then test the free tier on your real endpoints. Check coverage, data depth, latency, and rate limits. Pick the one that returns your data with the least glue code.
Build on the complete Ethereum data layer
Wallet balances, DeFi, prices, and token risk across 120+ chains. REST and MCP. Free tier.
Explore CoinStats API →
Disclaimer
This article is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not financial, investment, or legal advice. Crypto APIs evolve fast, and pricing, features, and chain coverage change. Verify each provider's docs before integrating. Always do your own research. Test any crypto API before production use.
