CoinMarketCap Market API Skill
This skill covers market-wide cryptocurrency data including global metrics, sentiment indicators, market indices, community activity, news content, charting data, and utility endpoints.
Authentication
All requests require the X-CMC_PRO_API_KEY header.
curl -X GET "https://pro-api.coinmarketcap.com/v1/global-metrics/quotes/latest" \
-H "X-CMC_PRO_API_KEY: your-api-key"
Get your API key at: https://pro.coinmarketcap.com/login
Base URL
https://pro-api.coinmarketcap.com
Common Use Cases
See use-cases.md for goal-based guidance on which endpoint to use:
- Get current market sentiment (Fear & Greed)
- Get total crypto market cap
- Get BTC dominance
- Track market cap history
- Track Fear & Greed history
- Get CMC100 index performance
- Compare CMC100 vs CMC20
- Get OHLCV candlestick data for charts
- Get simple price time series
- Get community trending tokens
- Get trending discussion topics
- Get latest crypto news
- Convert currency amounts
- Check API usage and limits
- Get fiat currency IDs
API Overview
Global Metrics
| Endpoint | Description | Reference |
|---|
| ---------- | ------------- | ----------- |
| GET /v1/global-metrics/quotes/historical | Historical global market metrics | global-metrics.md |
| GET /v1/global-metrics/quotes/latest | Latest total market cap, BTC dominance | global-metrics.md |
Fear and Greed Index
| Endpoint | Description | Reference |
|---|
| ---------- | ------------- | ----------- |
| GET /v3/fear-and-greed/historical | Historical fear/greed values | fear-greed.md |
| GET /v3/fear-and-greed/latest | Current market sentiment score | fear-greed.md |
Market Indices
| Endpoint | Description | Reference |
|---|
| ---------- | ------------- | ----------- |
| GET /v3/index/cmc100-historical | CMC100 index history | indices.md |
| GET /v3/index/cmc100-latest | CMC100 current value | indices.md |
| GET /v3/index/cmc20-historical | CMC20 index history | indices.md |
| GET /v3/index/cmc20-latest | CMC20 current value | indices.md |
Community
| Endpoint | Description | Reference |
|---|
| ---------- | ------------- | ----------- |
| GET /v1/community/trending/token | Trending tokens by community activity | community.md |
| GET /v1/community/trending/topic | Trending discussion topics | community.md |
Content
| Endpoint | Description | Reference |
|---|
| ---------- | ------------- | ----------- |
| GET /v1/content/latest | Latest news and Alexandria articles | content.md |
| GET /v1/content/posts/comments | Comments on a specific post | content.md |
| GET /v1/content/posts/latest | Latest community posts | content.md |
| GET /v1/content/posts/top | Top ranked community posts | content.md |
K-Line Charts
| Endpoint | Description | Reference |
|---|
| ---------- | ------------- | ----------- |
| GET /v1/k-line/candles | OHLCV candlestick data | kline.md |
| GET /v1/k-line/points | Time series price/market cap points | kline.md |
Tools
| Endpoint | Description | Reference |
|---|
| ---------- | ------------- | ----------- |
| GET /v1/fiat/map | Map fiat currencies to CMC IDs | tools.md |
| GET /v1/key/info | API key usage and plan details | tools.md |
| GET /v2/tools/price-conversion | Convert between currencies | tools.md |
Common Workflows
Get Market Sentiment Overview
- Fetch fear/greed index:
/v3/fear-and-greed/latest - Get global metrics:
/v1/global-metrics/quotes/latest - Combine for sentiment analysis with market cap context
Track Market Index Performance
- Get current CMC100 value:
/v3/index/cmc100-latest - Fetch historical data:
/v3/index/cmc100-historical - Compare performance over time
Monitor Community Activity
- Check trending tokens:
/v1/community/trending/token - Review trending topics:
/v1/community/trending/topic - Read latest posts:
/v1/content/posts/top
Build Price Charts
- Fetch OHLCV candles:
/v1/k-line/candles - Use interval parameter for timeframe (1h, 4h, 1d)
- Plot candlestick chart with returned data
Currency Conversion
- Get fiat currency IDs:
/v1/fiat/map - Convert amounts:
/v2/tools/price-conversion
Error Handling
| Status Code | Meaning | Action |
|---|
| ------------- | --------- | -------- |
| 400 | Bad Request | Check parameter values and format |
| 401 | Unauthorized | Verify API key is valid |
| 403 | Forbidden | Endpoint not available on your plan |
| 429 | Rate Limited | Wait and retry with backoff |
| 500 | Server Error | Retry after delay |
Error Response Format
{
"status": {
"error_code": 400,
"error_message": "Invalid value for 'id'"
}
}
Rate Limit Headers
Check these response headers to monitor usage:
X-CMC_PRO_API_KEY_CREDITS_USED - Credits consumedX-CMC_PRO_API_KEY_CREDITS_REMAINING - Credits leftX-CMC_PRO_API_KEY_RATE_LIMIT - Requests per minute limit
Response Format
All endpoints return JSON with this structure:
{
"status": {
"timestamp": "2024-01-15T10:30:00.000Z",
"error_code": 0,
"error_message": null,
"credit_count": 1
},
"data": { }
}
Tips
- Use the
/v1/key/info endpoint to check your plan limits before heavy usage - Cache global metrics data as it updates every few minutes
- Fear/greed index updates daily, no need for frequent polling
- K-line data supports multiple intervals for different chart timeframes
- Community trending data refreshes periodically throughout the day