Research

How Crypto APIs Deliver On-Chain Data: Transactions & Wallet Balances Explained

Discover how crypto APIs supply on-chain data—like wallet balances and transactions—for developers, analysts, and crypto enthusiasts. Explore API use cases and what to look for in a provider.
Token Metrics Team
6
MIN

The explosive growth of crypto assets and decentralized protocols has fueled demand for accurate, real-time blockchain data. Whether you’re building an application, performing due diligence, or exploring on-chain analytics, knowing how to access transactions and wallet balances is crucial. But do crypto APIs actually provide this level of on-chain data—and how can you use it effectively?

What Are Crypto APIs and Why Are They Essential?

Crypto APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) are software gateways that let applications interact with blockchains and related services without managing full nodes or direct infrastructure. These APIs power wallets, portfolio trackers, analytics dashboards, and AI-driven research tools with everything from price feeds to in-depth blockchain data.

Why use a crypto API? Running your own blockchain node can be resource-intensive, requiring disk space, bandwidth, security practices, and ongoing maintenance. An API abstracts this complexity, providing developers and analysts with curated endpoints for questing data on-demand. This is particularly valuable for applications that need:

  • Up-to-date transaction histories
  • Current wallet balances across tokens and networks
  • Wallet activity details
  • Aggregated analytics, like smart money flows and DeFi positions

The Types of On-Chain Data Crypto APIs Provide

On-chain data refers to all the information stored directly on blockchain ledgers. Crypto APIs tap into different layers of this data, including:

  • Transaction Data: Hashes, timestamps, senders, receivers, transferred assets, gas fees, and contract interactions.
  • Wallet Balances: Query current holdings of native coins (like ETH or BTC) and tokens (such as ERC-20s), and sometimes even NFTs.
  • Historical Address Activity: Complete transactional history of wallets, letting you analyze behavioral trends or audit activity.
  • Smart Contract Events: Details about token transfers, liquidity provision, swaps, or governance votes.
  • Network/Protocol Stats: Blockchain metrics like block times, mining data, and node health, important for infrastructure and analytics teams.

Modern crypto APIs go beyond simple read-access, offering data enrichment features such as address labels, scam alerts, and portfolio reconstruction. This enables AI-driven tools and traders to make sense of raw blockchain transactions with greater ease.

How Do Crypto APIs Fetch and Deliver On-Chain Data?

The process of serving real-time, reliable on-chain data is complex. Here’s how reputable API providers typically operate:

  1. Node Infrastructure: Providers run full nodes for each supported blockchain, ingesting every new block.
  2. Data Indexing: Data is parsed, structured, and indexed for fast lookups—allowing APIs to serve requests instantly, even for complex queries.
  3. Aggregation & Enrichment: Some platforms aggregate data across multiple chains or enhance raw data with analytics, labels, or risk scores, helping to contextualize wallet activity.
  4. API Layer Exposure: RESTful or GraphQL endpoints expose this information for developers and researchers.

For example, querying for a wallet’s balance generally involves calling an endpoint such as /address/{wallet}/balances, which returns all supported tokens and quantities for that wallet, directly from on-chain sources. Transaction history requests retrieve confirmed transfers and contract activities, often with additional tags for clarity.

Key Use Cases for On-Chain Transaction and Balance Data

On-chain data accessed via crypto APIs has become foundational in several scenarios:

  • Tracking Portfolio Value: Automated tools instantly aggregate wallet balances and transaction histories across multiple addresses, networks, and asset types.
  • Due Diligence & Audit: On-chain data reveals the actual movement of funds, enabling independent scrutiny for compliance, proof-of-reserves, and forensic analysis.
  • Developing dApps & DeFi Services: Most wallets, swaps, and lending apps rely on APIs to provide balance updates, confirm transactions, and fetch historical activity.
  • On-Chain Analytics: Researchers and AI models monitor whale activity, wallet clustering, and token flows to identify ecosystem trends.
  • Risk Management: Platforms use API-provided on-chain labels to detect scam addresses, risky protocols, or suspicious transaction patterns.

In addition, many quantitative research teams and AI-driven crypto tools ingest on-chain data through APIs to fuel predictive models, market research, and smart contract insights.

Choosing a Crypto API Provider: Essential Parameters

With dozens of API solutions available, consider the following when selecting a crypto API for on-chain data:

  • Data Completeness: Ensure the API supports the networks and asset types you need (e.g., native coins, tokens, NFTs).
  • Latency & Reliability: Fast data delivery and high uptime are critical for real-time trading applications and research automation.
  • Rate Limits & Pricing: Be mindful of free tier restrictions versus your anticipated query volume.
  • Data Enrichment: Does the provider offer wallet labels, scam detection, or analytics layers?
  • Documentation & Support: Robust docs and support channels make integrations smoother and troubleshooting faster.

If you’re integrating advanced analytics or AI-driven insights, prioritize API providers that combine raw on-chain access with actionable, processed intelligence.

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

FAQs on Crypto APIs and On-Chain Data

Can I access wallet balances and transaction histories via crypto APIs?

Yes, leading crypto API providers typically offer endpoints to retrieve wallet balances (for both native cryptocurrencies and supported tokens) and to view transaction histories, directly sourced from underlying blockchain ledgers. This streamlines personal portfolio tracking, due diligence, and analytics development.

Are crypto API data outputs reliable and up-to-date?

Reputable API providers maintain robust blockchain node infrastructure and update their databases in real time or near-real time. However, reliability also depends on network congestion, API rate limits, and provider-specific infrastructure. Always review service status and latency commitments before integrating for mission-critical use cases.

Do all crypto APIs support on-chain data for NFTs and Layer-2 networks?

No, coverage varies between providers. Some APIs offer comprehensive data across layer-1 (e.g., Ethereum, Bitcoin) and select layer-2 chains, while others may focus on specific asset classes or blockchains. Likewise, NFT balance and transaction endpoints are only available with APIs that index non-fungible token contracts. Always confirm network and asset support with your chosen provider.

How can developers integrate crypto API on-chain data into their apps?

Most APIs provide REST or GraphQL endpoints that can be queried using common programming languages or HTTP tools. Comprehensive documentation and SDKs (where available) guide developers through authentication, request parameters, and data formatting, making it straightforward to embed wallet balances, transaction lists, or on-chain analytics into web, desktop, or mobile applications.

What are the main benefits of using an API over running a own node?

Using a crypto API saves significant time and resources. Infrastructure, sync issues, storage maintenance, and security are handled by the provider. APIs also enrich data, aggregate multi-chain information, and simplify compliance and access controls, which can be much more complex and costly to reproduce independently.

Disclaimer

This article is for educational purposes and reference only. It does not constitute financial advice, crypto trading recommendations, or any endorsement of specific assets, platforms, or services. Please conduct your own research before making decisions involving digital assets or blockchain technologies.

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Token Metrics Team
Token Metrics Team

Recent Posts

Announcements

Token Metrics Launches $200K Grant Program to Back Crypto Builders

Token Metrics Team
8 min
MIN

In an era where crypto is moving faster than ever, the next generation of innovation will be driven by bold builders who fuse AI with blockchain. Whether it’s a project that analyzes sentiment across the market, scores tokens with precision, or generates real-time trading signals—Token Metrics is here to fund the future.

That’s why we’re excited to announce the Token Metrics $200K Grant Program — a bold initiative to empower crypto innovators at any stage.

💾 Why We’re Launching This Grant

Crypto innovation has always thrived on open experimentation. But we know firsthand how tough it can be to go from idea to product. You need the right tools, data, support, and—yes—capital.

We’re opening the doors to all Web3 builders, researchers, hackers, and startup teams with one goal: to supercharge the creation of AI-powered crypto tools that change the game.

If you're building anything in:

  • Crypto market intelligence
  • Sentiment analysis
  • Token scoring systems
  • AI trading bots
  • On-chain analytics
  • DeFi strategy tools


then this program is for you.

🎁 What You Get

Here’s what each selected project receives:

✅ Up to $5,000 in Grants

No strings attached. We’re offering non-dilutive microgrants to help you push your project forward—whether it's hosting costs, engineering hours, or marketing.

✅ Free Access to Token Metrics API

You’ll get direct access to our AI-powered crypto data platform, including investor and trader grades, signal alerts, technical indicators, and more. Build with institutional-grade tools.

✅ Technical Support and Mentorship

Our engineering and product team is on standby to help you with integration, use cases, and product guidance. Get real feedback from people who live and breathe crypto trading and AI.

✅ Community of Builders

You’ll join a thriving ecosystem of developers, analysts, and AI tinkerers who are all solving similar challenges. Share feedback, collaborate, and level up together.

🛠 Who Can Apply?

The grant is open to all stages of projects:

  • 💡 Idea Stage – Have an idea and a plan to build? You’re eligible.
  • đŸ§Ș Beta/Prototype – Already building and testing? Let’s accelerate you.
  • 🚀 Launched Product – Need support to scale? We’re here for it.
  • 💰 Paying Users – Time to expand? We can help you get there faster.

No matter your background, location, or company size—if you’re building something innovative at the intersection of crypto + AI, we want to hear from you.

🌐 What You Can Build with the Token Metrics API

The possibilities are vast. Some ideas we’d love to see:

  • AI-powered Token Rating Tools – Use our Trader and Investor Grades to generate insights.
  • Crypto Sentiment Dashboards – Analyze and visualize market sentiment.
  • Trading Signal Generators – Build bots or dashboards using our buy/sell indicators.
  • Risk Analysis Engines – Combine our technical metrics with your models.
  • DeFi Portfolio Managers – Use our price predictions and volatility data to manage risk.
  • Educational Crypto Apps – Leverage our AI grades to teach users how to DYOR.

Want to create something we haven’t thought of? Even better.

📆 Timeline & Application

The $200K will be distributed over multiple rounds across 2025, with applications reviewed on a rolling basis.

Apply once and you’ll be considered for current and upcoming rounds.

Deadline: First batch review begins July 15, 2025.

👉 Apply here now

đŸ€ Why Build with Token Metrics?

At Token Metrics, we believe the future of investing is intelligent, data-driven, and decentralized. That’s why we’re opening up our core infrastructure—so you can build tools that make crypto smarter for everyone.

We’ve spent years perfecting our AI models, data pipelines, and trading signals. Now, we’re putting that power in your hands.

Whether you’re a student hacking on weekends, a startup looking for product-market fit, or a solo dev with a bold vision—we want to help you win.

🚀 Let’s Build the Future

This isn’t just a grant—it’s a launchpad.

With $5K in non-dilutive funding, direct access to cutting-edge crypto data, and a community of top-tier builders, you’ll have everything you need to bring your project to life.

The next breakthrough tool might be yours. All it takes is one application.

🔗 Ready to apply? Click here → https://forms.gle/T3WGexLdGr9nF1hj9

Let’s build the future of crypto—together.‍

The Token Metrics Team

Research

Crypto Index Fund: How AI Is Revolutionizing Crypto Index Investment

Token Metrics Team
8 min
MIN

The Rise of Crypto Index Funds

As the cryptocurrency market matures, investors are increasingly seeking structured and diversified ways to participate without picking individual tokens. Just as index funds transformed traditional finance, crypto index funds are reshaping digital asset investing. These funds allow investors to gain broad exposure to the crypto market through a single investment vehicle, making them a compelling choice for both new and experienced participants.

But in a fast-moving, data-heavy environment like crypto, efficiency is everything. This is where AI-enhanced crypto index investment comes in—offering smarter rebalancing, risk management, and data-driven selection strategies that outperform traditional index methodologies.

What Are Crypto Index Funds?

A crypto index fund is a digital asset investment product that tracks the performance of a group of cryptocurrencies, typically weighted by market capitalization, theme, or other quantitative factors. Similar to traditional index funds in equities (like the S&P 500), a crypto index aggregates tokens into a single, trackable basket, allowing investors to diversify easily.

Key Features of Crypto Index Funds:

  • Diversification: Spread risk across multiple crypto assets.
  • Passive Investment: No need to actively trade or research individual tokens.
  • Low Fees: Typically lower management costs than hedge funds or active trading.
  • Rebalancing: Regular updates to maintain target weights and asset mix.
  • Transparency: Index compositions and methodologies are usually public.

Popular Crypto Index Themes:

  • Top 10 or Top 25 by Market Cap
  • DeFi Index: Includes projects like Uniswap, Aave, Compound.
  • AI Tokens Index: Focused on artificial intelligence crypto projects.
  • NFT Index: Tracks platforms like Blur, Rarible, or OpenSea tokens.
  • Meme Coin Index: A speculative basket for high-risk investors.

Why Crypto Index Investment Is Gaining Popularity

Crypto markets are volatile, fast-moving, and often driven by unpredictable narratives. Many investors, especially institutions or those new to the space, are uncomfortable managing a portfolio of dozens of altcoins. That’s where crypto index investment provides a safe entry point.

Benefits of Crypto Index Funds:

  1. Reduced Volatility: Spreading capital over multiple assets cushions against extreme swings.
  2. Time-Saving: Investors don’t have to stay glued to charts or news.
  3. Risk Management: Poor performers get phased out during rebalancing.
  4. Benchmarking: Investors can measure their returns against established crypto indices.

The Problem with Traditional Crypto Index Funds

Despite their advantages, most crypto index funds still rely on static rule sets:

  • Fixed Rebalancing Intervals: Usually monthly or quarterly, which may not align with real-time market shifts.
  • Market Cap Bias: Overexposure to large-cap tokens can dilute exposure to high-growth assets.
  • No Signal Integration: They ignore on-chain activity, social sentiment, or developer metrics.

In a market as dynamic as crypto, these limitations mean missed opportunities and reduced alpha.

Enter AI: The Future of Efficient Crypto Index Funds

AI is revolutionizing how crypto indices are built, managed, and optimized. By ingesting real-time data from hundreds of sources, AI-powered systems can outperform static, rules-based indices in terms of returns, risk mitigation, and adaptability.

How AI Enhances Crypto Index Investment:

  1. Dynamic Rebalancing Based on Signals
    • Instead of rigid monthly rebalancing, AI uses market signals (e.g., momentum, trend strength, liquidity) to adjust allocations daily or even hourly.
    • Example: Exiting meme tokens during a bearish shift, reallocating to AI tokens gaining traction.
  2. Sentiment Analysis and News Detection
    • AI scans Twitter, Reddit, Telegram, and news sites for bullish/bearish sentiment, helping identify trends before they go mainstream.
    • This is crucial for niche tokens with limited historical data.
  3. On-Chain Metrics and Smart Contract Activity
    • AI monitors transaction volumes, active wallets, staking ratios, and developer commits to detect growth or decline before prices reflect it.
  4. Risk-Adjusted Weighting Models
    • Rather than simply weighting by market cap, AI uses volatility, Sharpe ratio, and correlation models to dynamically assign weights.
    • This reduces overexposure to volatile assets and boosts overall portfolio efficiency.
  5. Backtesting and Optimization
    • AI can simulate thousands of portfolio combinations over historical data to find optimal strategies based on the user’s risk profile.

Real-World Example: AI-Driven Crypto Index Platforms

Some platforms are already pioneering AI-powered crypto indices:

  • Token Metrics AI Indices: Combine machine learning with market sentiment to allocate and rebalance crypto portfolios automatically. They feature bullish and bearish signals that guide when to enter or exit an index.
  • Bitwise & Galaxy Indices: Though more traditional, they’re beginning to explore data-driven rebalancing and smart beta strategies.
  • DeFi Pulse Index (DPI): A static sector index for DeFi, but when enhanced with AI (e.g., incorporating protocol usage data), it could evolve into a dynamic performer.

The Future: Personalized AI Crypto Index Funds

Imagine a world where your crypto portfolio isn’t just passively tracking a fixed list—but actively evolving based on your risk profile, market trends, and even your trading behavior.

AI will enable:

  • User-Customized Indices: Choose themes (e.g., AI, RWA, Gaming) and let AI build and manage the ideal mix.
  • Automated Exit Strategies: AI detects early warning signals and reallocates your funds to stablecoins.
  • Goal-Based Investing: AI manages your crypto portfolio to hit a target (e.g., 15% annualized return or reduce drawdowns under 10%).

Final Thoughts: Best Crypto Index Investing Starts with AI

Crypto index funds offer a powerful solution for investors looking to simplify their entry into the world of digital assets. But in a space defined by speed, volatility, and complexity, static methods are quickly becoming outdated.

By incorporating AI into crypto index investment, the future becomes more adaptive, predictive, and personalized. Whether you're a passive investor or an active trader looking for an edge, AI-powered crypto indices are unlocking a new frontier in digital wealth creation.

Announcements

Build the Future of Crypto Trading: Integrating Token Metrics with LangChain for Smarter Crypto Decisions

Token Metrics Team
8 min
MIN

The rise of AI in crypto trading has opened new frontiers, and Token Metrics is leading the charge by enabling developers to build intelligent trading agents using its powerful API. The latest innovation? A seamless integration with LangChain – a popular framework for building context-aware agents using large language models (LLMs). In this blog post, we’ll break down how this integration works, what it enables, and why it represents a game-changing leap in automated crypto analysis.

What is LangChain?

LangChain is an open-source framework that helps developers build applications powered by large language models like Gemini, Claude, and OpenAI. It enables developers to build a wide range of advanced AI solutions, including:

  • Conversational agents
  • Retrieval-based question answering
  • Tool-using AI agents
  • Autonomous decision-making bots

By providing a flexible structure, LangChain makes it easy to integrate LLMs with real-world data sources and external tools, empowering your application to both reason and take action.

What is the Token Metrics API?

The Token Metrics API is a rich data layer for crypto investors, analysts, and builders. It provides real-time and historical data across:

  • AI-powered Trader and Investor Grades
  • Daily/Hourly OHLCV metrics
  • Bullish/Bearish AI signals
  • Quantitative indicators
  • Curated Crypto Indices

With over 80 data points per token and robust filtering, the API makes it easy to identify profitable tokens, spot market trends, and build intelligent trading strategies.

Why Combine LangChain and Token Metrics?

Combining LangChain with Token Metrics lets you build AI-powered crypto agents that deliver market analysis and actionable insights. These agents can:

  • Analyze crypto prices, trends, and sentiment using AI-driven methods
  • Apply predefined strategies or custom logic for automated decision making
  • Generates clear, human-readable insights and trading signals
  • Identify and highlight tokens with strong profit potential

This integration equips your crypto applications with intelligent, data-driven capabilities to support smarter trading and research.

Getting Started: Building the Agent

The integration process begins with cloning a GitHub repository (public upon video release), which includes everything needed to run a Token Metrics x LangChain demo agent. After installing the dependencies and opening the codebase in a code editor, you’ll find a fully documented README that walks you through the setup.

Step 1: Install Dependencies 

Navigate to the project directory and install the required packages using:

‍

Step 2: Configure Environment Variables

Before spinning up the agent, add your Token Metrics API key and your LLM API key (Openai, gemini, etc..) to the .env file. These credentials authorize the agent to access both Token Metrics and your chosen LLM.

Step 3: Define and Run the Agent 

The agent logic is explained directly in the README and starter code sample, making it easy to follow and customize. You’ll find clear instructions and code snippets that guide you through setting up the agent’s capabilities.

The agent supports two main modes:

  • Simple Agent: A straightforward agent that answers user questions using Token Metrics tools. It’s ideal for quick queries and basic crypto research tasks.
  • Advanced Agent: A more powerful agent capable of reasoning through complex tasks, chaining together multiple tools, and providing deeper analysis. This agent can handle multi-step queries and deliver more comprehensive insights.

Powered by LangChain’s ReAct (Reasoning + Acting) framework, your agent can:

  • Access a suite of Token Metrics tools for crypto analysis, including price data, trading signals, grades, and sentiment
  • Apply predefined strategies or custom logic for automated decision-making
  • Generate clear, human-readable insights and trading signals
  • Filter and highlight tokens based on objective, data-driven criteria

With comprehensive documentation and step-by-step guidance in the README, you can quickly build, customize, and deploy your own intelligent crypto research assistant—no separate agent.py file required.

A Real-World Example: Finding Winning Tokens

Here’s how the agent works in practice:

  • It queries tokens with a valid Trader Grade
  • Filters tokens with Bullish AI signals
  • Compares Trading Signal ROI vs Holding ROI
  • Filters out tokens that aren’t outperforming with active trading

In the test case, it identifies BANANAS S31 as a top candidate:

  • High trader grade
  • Bullish signal
  • Strong Trading Signal ROI (better than holding)

At the end of its analysis, the bot outputs a summary of:

  • Overall market sentiment
  • Top token opportunities
  • Macro-level recommendations

In this case, while BANANAS S31 stood out, the overall market leaned neutral with a slight long-term bearish bias, a useful snapshot for any trader.

Switching to the Advanced Agent

LangChain’s flexibility allows the same bot to switch into an interactive chatbot by attaching memory to the agent. Users can now type in:

“What are the top 3 tokens to watch today?”
“Is the market bullish or bearish?”
“Give me DeFi tokens with bullish signals.”

The agent can dynamically select and chain together specialized crypto analysis tools in response to your questions. This means the agent doesn’t just answer queries with static information but it actively pulls the latest Token Metrics data, applies AI-driven analytics, and synthesizes insights using multiple sources and methods. 

As a result, you will get clear, context-aware responses about market trends, trading signals, token performance, and more. All grounded by the Token Metrics APIs

Key Benefits of This Integration

Here’s why this LangChain x Token Metrics setup is a big deal:

✅ AI That Acts

LangChain agents go beyond conversation—they can autonomously scan and analyze crypto markets using a suite of Token Metrics tools.

✅ Actionable Data

Token Metrics transforms complex market data into actionable insights, empowering the agent to support smarter trading and investment decisions.

✅ Current Market Analysis

Every time the agent runs, it draws on up-to-date Token Metrics data, ensuring responses reflect the latest market conditions.

✅ Fully Customizable

Tailor the agent to your needs, filter by DeFi tokens, set custom ROI thresholds, or incorporate additional data sources like social sentiment. The open-source codebase makes it easy to adapt the agent for any use case

What Can You Build With This?

This framework provides a versatile foundation for a wide range of crypto applications, including:

  • Personal trading assistants
  • Crypto Telegram bots
  • LLM-integrated crypto dashboards
  • Quant strategy testers
  • AI-powered newsletters and daily briefs

By combining a powerful API with a reasoning engine, you unlock a new frontier in crypto intelligence.

Final Thoughts

The integration of Token Metrics with LangChain shows what’s possible when deep crypto analytics meets autonomous reasoning. Instead of flipping between dashboards, you can build an agent that does the research for you, surfaces profitable tokens, and delivers daily alpha—automatically.

Whether you’re a developer, trader, or AI enthusiast, this setup gives you a robust foundation to experiment, build, and push the future of AI trading forward.

Try It Yourself

Once the repository is public, you’ll be able to:

  • Clone it from GitHub
  • Add your API keys
  • Customize your agent
  • Start generating automated crypto insights today

Click here to view the demo.

AI agents are the future of trading—and with Token Metrics and LangChain, the future is already here.

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