Research

How to Choose the Best Crypto API in 2025: Trends, Features, and Leaders

Discover how to evaluate top crypto APIs in 2025, explore key features, and see how AI and on-chain analytics are shaping future blockchain development tools.
Token Metrics Team
5
MIN

The digital asset landscape is evolving rapidly, and as we move through 2025, crypto APIs are more powerful—and essential—than ever. Developers, researchers, and businesses alike depend on APIs to access real-time data, execute smart contracts, and integrate blockchain functionalities into their platforms. But with so many options on the market, how do you identify the best crypto API for your needs? In this guide, we'll explore the latest trends shaping crypto API technology, critical factors to consider, and which platforms are leading the way in 2025.

How Crypto APIs Have Evolved by 2025

In the early days of cryptocurrency, APIs focused primarily on fetching current prices or facilitating basic trades. Fast forward to 2025, and APIs now serve as the backbone for an expansive range of blockchain and decentralized finance (DeFi) applications. Several trends have fueled this evolution:

  • Real-Time, Multi-Chain Data: Top crypto APIs aggregate and deliver data from multiple blockchains, exchanges, and even layer-2 solutions, ensuring comprehensive market visibility.
  • Enhanced Security and Compliance: With increased regulatory scrutiny, leading APIs now offer KYC/AML support, transaction monitoring, and data privacy features.
  • AI Integration: Modern APIs increasingly leverage AI to provide analytics, sentiment analysis, anomaly detection, and risk scoring for crypto assets.
  • Modular Infrastructure: Flexible endpoints and SDKs allow developers to easily tailor API functions to project-specific needs.

The result is a more robust, secure, and developer-friendly API ecosystem—empowering innovative products in trading, analytics, DeFi, and beyond.

Key Criteria for Evaluating the Best Crypto APIs

With numerous platforms offering crypto APIs, conducting a methodical evaluation is crucial. Here are the main criteria to assess:

  • Data Coverage: Does the API offer information on a broad range of assets, including major coins, tokens, DeFi protocols, and NFTs? Can it access both historical and real-time on-chain data?
  • Latency and Reliability: Financial apps depend on speedy, uninterrupted data. Look for APIs with low latency (<100ms), high uptime (ideally 99.9%+), and robust error handling.
  • Security: Does the provider employ encryption, authentication (such as OAuth2), and rate limiting to protect data and prevent abuse?
  • AI and Analytical Tools: Does the API integrate AI features such as predictive analytics, on-chain metrics, or trading signals to support deeper research?
  • Developer Experience: Consider the quality of documentation, SDK availability, and support channels. User-friendly interfaces can accelerate project timelines.
  • Pricing and Limits: Study the cost structure, rate limits, and overage policies to ensure they align with your project’s scale and budget.

Documenting your project requirements—whether you're building a portfolio tracker, AI trading agent, or DeFi dashboard—will make it easier to compare platforms using this framework.

Leading Crypto APIs and Platforms in 2025

A few platforms continue setting standards for crypto API solutions. While exact needs will vary, below are some of the most recognized in 2025, each offering strengths for different use-cases:

  • Token Metrics API: Renowned for its AI-driven analytics, on-chain insights, and trading signals, making it highly valuable for quantitative research and automated agents.
  • CoinGecko/CMC APIs: Widely used for broad market coverage, tokens, and basic price feeds. Their easy integration appeals to quick deployments and informational apps.
  • Alchemy, QuickNode, and Infura: Focused on direct blockchain node access, ideal for developers building dApps, smart contracts, or DeFi infrastructure.
  • Glassnode, CryptoQuant: Specialized in granular on-chain and market analytics for institutional research and risk management.
  • Mempool.space, Blockchair: Targeted at blockchain explorers, these APIs provide detailed transaction and block data across multiple chains.

Ultimately, the “best” choice depends on your integration scenario—from simple price widgets to sophisticated AI-powered crypto tools.

AI, On-Chain Data, and the Future of Crypto APIs

AI has become a game-changer for crypto analysis and application development. APIs that offer built-in machine learning, predictive analytics, and anomaly detection unlock new use-cases:

  • Algorithmic Research: AI-enriched endpoints help researchers identify market patterns, backtest strategies, and monitor risk in real time.
  • Smart Crypto Agents: Developers can build bots and agents that interact autonomously with exchanges and DeFi protocols, powered by API-supplied insights.
  • Institutional-Grade Risk Management: Analytical APIs help teams monitor on-chain activity, flag suspicious transactions, and maintain regulatory compliance.

The ideal API in 2025 will combine reliable blockchain access, rich data coverage, robust analytics, and flexible integration—maximizing the power of AI while maintaining the security standards the industry now demands.

Build Smarter Crypto Apps & AI Agents with Token Metrics

Token Metrics provides real-time prices, trading signals, and on-chain insights all from one powerful API. Grab a Free API Key

Frequently Asked Questions: Best Crypto APIs in 2025

What is a crypto API and why is it important?

A crypto API is a set of programmable endpoints that allows developers to interact with cryptocurrency networks, fetch data, and even execute transactions. It’s vital for automating research, trading, reporting, and blockchain integrations in crypto projects.

How should I choose between different crypto APIs?

Consider factors such as data coverage, latency, reliability, security, costs, and documentation quality. Outline your use case—such as portfolio tracking, AI research, or building DeFi apps—and compare platforms based on those needs.

Are crypto APIs secure to use?

Top-tier APIs implement strong encryption, access keys, and rate limiting. Always vet providers for compliance and review their security documentation before integrating critical applications.

Can I use AI with crypto APIs?

Yes. Many leading APIs in 2025 support AI-driven analytics, from market sentiment scoring to automated trading signals. These tools help researchers and developers make more informed, data-driven decisions.

What makes Token Metrics API different from the rest?

The Token Metrics API stands out for its AI-powered intelligence, providing advanced trading signals, comprehensive on-chain insights, and seamless integration capabilities for modern crypto and DeFi applications.

Disclaimer

This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute investment advice or an offer to purchase or sell any financial instrument. Always conduct your own research and consult appropriate professionals before relying on data for critical operations.

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Token Metrics Team
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Research

12 Best Cryptocurrency APIs - Real-time Prices, On-Chain Crypto Data, AI Crypto Trading Signals

Token Metrics Team
8 minutes
MIN

Cryptocurrencies have revolutionized the way people make payments and investments. With the rise of digital assets, Cryptocurrency APIs have become essential tools for developers to build applications that can interact with the blockchain. An API allows you to connect to a third-party service and retrieve or submit data in a standardized format to a website or application.

Token Metrics Crypto API is the best cryptocurrency API currently available. Use Token Metrics crypto API for real-time prices, on-chain data, and AI crypto trading signals from one powerful crypto API. This crypto API is built for speed and accuracy to help you trade smarter instantly.We will look into the features and advantages, discuss the different types of APIs, and learn how to use them to create powerful applications. We will also cover the pros and cons of using these APIs, and provide examples of how they can be used. Last but not least, we will discuss the pricing of these APIs and provide some best practices for using them.

Introduction to Crypto APIs

Cryptocurrency APIs are Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) that allow developers to access and integrate cryptocurrency data into their applications. APIs provide access to a variety of data such as prices, transactions, and blockchains. With the help of these APIs, developers can create powerful applications that can interact with the crypto world.

Benefits of Using Crypto APIs

The most obvious benefit of using cryptocurrency APIs is that they provide access to a wealth of data that can be used to build powerful applications. The APIs provide access to real-time data. This data can be used to create applications that can monitor the market, track transactions, and even make predictions about the future of the crypto world.

Another benefit of using cryptocurrency APIs is that they are easy to use and provide a consistent and reliable source of data. The APIs are designed to be user friendly, so developers don’t have to worry about getting bogged down in technical details. The APIs also provide reliable, up-to-date data that can be used to create accurate and reliable applications.

Cryptocurrency APIs can also save developers a lot of time and effort. Instead of having to manually gather data, developers can simply use the APIs and get the data they need. This can save developers a lot of time and effort, allowing them to focus on other aspects of their applications.

Types of Cryptocurrency APIs

There are a variety of cryptocurrency APIs available, each with its own set of features and advantages. The most common types of APIs are:

  • Price APIs provide access to real-time price data for a variety of cryptocurrencies. These APIs can be used to monitor the market and make predictions about the future of the crypto world.
  • Transaction APIs provide access to data about transactions that have occurred in the blockchain. This data can be used to track transactions and determine the current state of the blockchain.
  • Blockchain APIs provide access to the blockchain itself. These APIs are used to interact directly with the blockchain, allowing developers to create applications that can interact with the blockchain.

List of 12 Best Cryptocurrency APIs You Can Count On

Now that we’ve discussed the benefits and types of crypto APIs, let’s look at the best APIs to get crypto data today.

1. Token Metrics: Token Metrics crypto API offers  real-time prices, on-chain data, and AI trading signals from one powerful crypto API.  It is the best crypto API built for speed and accuracy to help you trade smarter instantly. Token Metrics is an AI driven platform which enables its users research thousands of cryptocurrencies in an automated way, without manually going through coins individually. Use Token Metrics crypto API for fast and most accurate crypto data.

What’s inside the $TMAI API?

AI-Powered Trading Signals – Bullish and bearish calls backed by over 80 data points
Real-Time Grades – Instantly assess token momentum with Trader & Investor Grades
Curated Indices – Plug into ready-to-use crypto portfolios by sector or market cap
Lightning-Fast Performance – Built for bots, dashboards, dApps, and next-gen trading tools

Whether you’re building a DeFi dashboard, an alpha-sniping bot, or your own crypto terminal — this is your edge.

Price: Free

2. CoinMarketCapCoinMarketCap offers one of the most popular APIs for retrieving real-time cryptocurrency market data, including prices, volume, and market capitalization for over 8,000 coins and tokens. It also offers endpoints for historical data and global averages.

Price Range: $0-$700 a month

3. CoinGeckoCoinGecko has an API that provides a comprehensive set of cryptocurrency data, including market data, developer activity, and community metrics for more than 10,000 coins and tokens. API is both paid and free, depending on your needs.

Price Range: Starting from $129 per month

4. CryptoCompare: CryptoCompare offers endpoints for news articles, social media activity, and mining data. It strives to find the best places to store, trade and mine cryptocurrencies.

Price Range: Free

5. BitMEX: BitMEX is a cryptocurrency derivatives exchange that provides access to real-time prices and historical data. Their API provides instant access to a variety of market data such as trading volumes and market caps.

Price & Plans: Custom 

6. CoinDesk: CoinDesk is a platform for media, events, data and indices for the cryptocurrency market. CoinDesk Indices is a product of CoinDesk that offers access to cryptocurrency data with ease.

Price: Free

7. Bitstamp: Bitstamp is a cryptocurrency exchange that provides access to real-time prices and historical data. It provides premium access to crypto trading for both individuals and institutions through high liquidity, reliable order execution and constant uptime. 

Price: 0.50% for those with under $10,000 in 30-day trading volume

8. CoinMarketCal: CoinMarketCal is a database of upcoming events related to cryptocurrencies, allowing you to track things like unlocks, giveaways, and more. Their API can be used to track your favourite coins.

Price: Free

9. Poloniex: Poloniex is a cryptocurrency exchange that provides access to real-time prices and historical data. The API also provides access to a variety of market data such as trading volumes and market caps.

Price: The Maker and Taker fee rates for trading USDT-collateralized perpetual contracts on Poloniex are 0.01% and 0.04% respectively, and the changes apply to all customers regardless of their trade volume.

10. Binance: Binance is one of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges and provides access to a variety of data such as prices, transactions, and blockchains. The API also allows developers to interact with the Binance platform, allowing them to buy, sell, and store cryptocurrencies. 

Price: Free

 11. Kraken: Kraken is a cryptocurrency exchange and also provides access to crypto data such as prices, transactions, and blockchains. Like Binance, their API also allows you to interact with Kraken through code.

Price: 0.2-0.3% of the 30-day trade volume

12. CCXT: CCXT is a library for cryptocurrency trading and e-commerce with support for many bitcoin/ether/altcoin exchange markets and merchant APIs.

Price: $0-$29

Note: The prices are subject to change or may have already changed.

How to Choose the Best Crypto API

Choosing the best cryptocurrency API for your application can be a daunting task. There are a variety of APIs available, each with its own set of features and advantages. So, it’s important to take the time to research the different APIs and determine which one is right for your application.

When choosing a Cryptocurrency API, it’s important to consider the features it provides. 

Here are a few questions you need answers to:

  • Does the API provide access to real-time price data? 
  • Does it provide access to the blockchain? 
  • Does it provide access to a variety of market data? 

It’s also important to consider the pricing of the API. As mentioned above, some APIs are free, while others require a subscription fee. It’s important to consider the cost of the API and make sure it fits within your budget. 

Best Practices for Using Crypto APIs

Using crypto APIs can be a great way to access data and create powerful applications. However, there are a few best practices to keep in mind when using these APIs.

  • The first best practice is to make sure the API is reliable. The API you use should be up-to-date and provide accurate data.
  • The second best practice is to make sure the API is secure. Make sure the API you are using is secure and provides the necessary security measures.
  • The third best practice is to use the API responsibly. This API has to be used responsibly and avoid being abused.
  • Finally, make sure the API is easy to use and quick to understand.

 To explore our FREE Token Metrics crypto API, click here.

Announcements

Introducing Token Metrics Investor Grade

Token Metrics Team
5 minutes
MIN

Token Metrics is proud to launch the "TM Investor Grade" to help investors identify promising long-term investments in the world of cryptocurrency. The grade is comprised of three subsets: 

  • The Fundamental Grade
  • The Technology Grade, and 
  • The Valuation Grade. 

Our statistical analysis and machine learning techniques help calculate these grades. They account for many data points to provide a strong indication of the relative strength of each crypto asset or a project.

The TM Investor Grade is intended for use by investors looking to hold onto investments for a longer period of time, created by combining the Fundamental Grade with the Technology Grade and Valuation Grade.

Fundamental Grade

Fundamental analysis has always been a crucial part of the research process at Token Metrics. Before considering any potential long-term investments, we conduct a thorough fundamental analysis to understand an asset's underlying strengths and weaknesses. Our use of fundamental analysis is how we discovered the promising investment opportunity in Helium back in 2018.

However, manually performing fundamental analysis on every token in the market is not feasible. This is why our research and data science teams automated the process. The result is our Automated Long-term Investor Grade. This grade considers a wide range of data points and applies statistical analysis to provide scores in various categories, including valuation, investors, tokenomics, community, and more. 

Technology Grade

Token Metrics is also known for conducting code reviews on cryptocurrency projects. This is how we discovered that MATIC was a particularly strong project. Similar to fundamental analysis, our blockchain engineers carried out these reviews manually. However, we have now automated the entire process. Using open source data, we are able to provide technology scores for nearly all crypto assets. This is extremely valuable for investors, as it allows them to assess the long-term security and feasibility of different investments. Our technology scoring is based on three main categories: development activity, security and audit, and code quality.

The development activity category takes into account the contributions of the development community and tracks various community metrics. The security and audit category looks at the security of a project and tries to determine its resilience to hacks and other vulnerabilities. The code quality category measures how well the project's code is written, by evaluating the number of bugs and violations it has and how well it adheres to best coding practices and standards.

We are thrilled that our data science team, in collaboration with our engineering team, has been able to use statistical analysis to scale up our powerful technology scoring to cover almost all assets in the market.

Valuation Grade

The valuation grade compares a project's fully diluted value, or FDV, with the average FDV of different sectors that project belongs to.

Consider this example:

  • CRV belongs to sector A and B
  • CRV's FDV = 10
  • Average FDV in sector A = 20
  • Average FDV in sector B = 50

This will show a high valuation grade because the project is undervalued compared to its sectors.

By combining these grades, we get the TM Investor Grade which is much more powerful in determining the strength of the project in the long run.

How To Access

To view the Investor Grade, you can go to the individual token details page. Click on the 'Investor' tab on the left of the screen, and then click on the 'Fundamentals' tab. Then, you will be able to see how the asset is performing in each of the 9 categories we use . All these categories are combined to create the overall Fundamental grade. To generate this grade, we use a wide variety of data sources to gather all the necessary information.

In the same tab, you will find the 'Technology' grade. This grade comprises many different data points. These data points combine into three major categories:

  • Development Activity
  • Security and Audit, and 
  • Code Quality.

You can also access the newly-launched feature on the Rating page by pressing the Investor switch next to Trader. This will help you sort all crypto assets by our Long-term Investor Grade.

If you look at the Ratings page - sorted by Investor Grade in descending order [highest to lowest] - these are assets that Token Metrics believes have strong potential in the future.

The TM Investor Grade is a powerful tool for evaluating the long-term potential of cryptocurrency projects. By considering various data points, including fundamental analysis, technology scoring, and valuation grades, the grade provides a comprehensive assessment of a project's strengths and weaknesses.

The grade updates regularly to reflect changing market conditions, making it an essential tool for anyone looking to invest in the cryptocurrency space.

FAQs

1. How does the Investor Grade differ from the Trader Grade?

The Investor Grade is intended for long-term investing, while the Trader Grade is geared toward short-term trading. The data points used to calculate the Investor Grade differ from those used for the Trader Grade.

2. Which grade should I pay more attention to - the Investor Grade or Trader Grade?

If you are interested in short-term trades based on price action, such as swing or day trades, you should consider the Trader Grade. On the other hand, the Investor Grade is more suitable for customers who want to invest long-term and hold on to their assets for the potential of significant returns or to discover undervalued assets.

NFTs

Best NFT Marketplaces - 10 Marketplaces for NFTs in 2023

Token Metrics Team
5 minutes
MIN

As the world of cryptocurrency continues to evolve and the blockchain revolution continues to gain traction, non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are becoming increasingly popular. NFTs are digital assets that are stored on the blockchain and are unique and non-interchangeable. They are used to represent everything from art, music, videos, and digital collectibles. With the rise of NFTs, more and more people are looking for the best NFT marketplaces to buy and sell their NFTs. If you are someone who is also looking for the top NFT marketplaces to buy, sell, and trade NFTs on, this is the place to be.

In this article, we’ll take a look at what an NFT marketplace is and how they work. We’ll also provide a list of the best NFT marketplaces, so you can find the perfect place to buy or sell your digital artwork.

What Is an NFT Marketplace?

An NFT marketplace is a digital platform specifically designed to facilitate the sale and purchase of NFTs or Non-Fungible Tokens. NFTs are digital artworks that are created, bought, and sold on these marketplaces. They are unique digital tokens that are stored on the blockchain and can be bought, sold, and traded. It is the perfect place to find and purchase digital art works created by talented artists from around the world.

The concept of NFTs has been around for a few years, but it has only recently started to gain traction. As more people become aware of the potential of NFTs, the demand for these marketplaces is increasing. There are now many different NFT marketplaces available, each offering something unique and different.

NFT marketplaces are a great way to find and purchase unique digital artwork from talented artists. They are also a great way to invest in digital art, as NFTs can be bought, sold, and traded for a profit.

How Do NFT Marketplaces Work?

NFT marketplaces work by connecting buyers and sellers of digital artwork. Buyers can browse through the different artworks available, and then purchase the artwork they like. The artwork is stored on the blockchain, and the buyer receives a unique token that represents the artwork. This token can then be used to buy, sell, or trade the artwork.

When a buyer purchases an artwork, the money goes to the artist who created the artwork. The marketplace then takes a small commission for facilitating the transaction. The commission varies from marketplace to marketplace, but usually, it is around 5-10%.

The artwork is stored on the blockchain, and the buyer receives a unique token that represents the artwork. This token can then be used to buy, sell, or trade the artwork. The token can also be used as a form of digital currency and can be exchanged for other digital assets like cryptocurrencies.

NFT marketplaces are a great way to find, buy, and sell digital artwork. They are also a great way to invest in digital art, as NFTs can be bought, sold, and traded for a profit.

Why Is It Important to Understand the Best NFT Marketplaces?

It is important to understand the best NFT marketplaces because they provide users with a secure, user-friendly platform to buy and sell NFTs. The marketplaces also provide users with access to a variety of services such as NFT auctions, NFT staking, NFT creation, and more.

The best NFT marketplaces also provide users with the option to purchase NFTs using cryptocurrency. This makes it easier for users to purchase NFTs without having to rely on traditional currency. The marketplaces also make it easy for users to store and manage their NFTs.

Finally, the NFT marketplaces also provide users with access to a wide variety of NFTs. This allows users to easily find and purchase the NFTs they are looking for.

List of Best NFT Marketplaces

The following is a list of the best NFT marketplaces for 2023. All of these marketplaces offer something unique and different and are great places to find and purchase digital artworks.

  1. OpenSea: OpenSea launched in 2017 and became one of the most popular NFT marketplaces. It has a wide selection of digital art, ranging from digital collectibles to digital artwork. OpenSea also has a built-in auction system, which makes it easy to buy and sell digital artwork.
  2. Magic Eden: Magic Eden started as an NFT marketplace for Solana but now supports multiple blockchains to buy, sell, and trade NFTs on.
  3. Rarible: Rarible launched in 2020 and became an important marketplace for digital art. It has a huge selection of digital artwork from talented artists, and it also has a built-in auction system with 0% fees.  
  4. SuperRare: SuperRare is another popular NFT marketplace launched in 2018, powered by a community of artists, curators, collectors and partners.
  5. MakersPlace: MakersPlace marketplace launched in 2018, for rare, authentic and curated digital art. It’s a great place for renown artists powered by blockchain technology.
  6. Foundation: Foundation is an NFT marketplace launched in 2021, that specializes in digital collectibles. It has a large selection of digital collectibles with a built-in auction system.
  7. Decentraland: Decentraland launched in 2020. It is a virtual destination for digital assets. You can buy land, estates, avatar wearables and names in the Decentraland Marketplace.
  8. Sorare: Sorare is another NFT marketplace launched in 2019 that specializes in digital collectibles where you can collect, play and win officially licensed digital cards featuring the world's best global football, NBA and MLB players.
  9. Dapper Labs: Dapper Labs was founded in 2018. It uses the power of play to deliver blockchain-based experiences and digital collectibles that are made for you and ready for the real world.
  10. Nifty Gateway: Nifty Gateway is another NFT marketplace you can use. It offers a diverse range of art and collectible NFTs which are available as Curated Drops.

Conclusion

NFT marketplaces are a great way to find, buy, and sell digital artwork. They are also a great way to invest in digital art, as NFTs can be bought, sold, and traded for a profit.

Whether you’re looking to buy digital artwork or invest in digital art, these marketplaces are the perfect place to start. So why wait? Start exploring these marketplaces and find the perfect NFT for you today.

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