title: 5-Minute Quickstart description: Install BlockRun, fund a wallet with USDC, and make your first paid call in under five minutes — via Claude Code MCP or the Python/TypeScript SDKs.

5-Minute Quickstart

Make your first paid AI call in under five minutes. No API keys, no subscription — just a wallet with a few dollars of USDC.

:::note{title="What you need"} A terminal, and ~$5 of USDC on Base (or Solana). Don't have USDC yet? Any Coinbase account can withdraw it directly to Base — Step 2 shows the address. :::

Pick your surface

::::tabs

:::tab{label="Claude Code (MCP)"} Best for Claude Code, Cursor, and other MCP clients — natural-language access to all 18 tools.

claude mcp add blockrun -s user -- npx -y @blockrun/mcp@latest

:::

:::tab{label="Python SDK"} Best for backends and autonomous agents.

pip install blockrun-llm

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:::tab{label="TypeScript SDK"} Best for Node apps and agent frameworks.

npm install @blockrun/llm

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Set up and make your first call

::::steps

:::step{title="Create a wallet"} A non-custodial wallet is created automatically on first run. In Claude Code, just ask for your wallet, or run the SDK once.

blockrun_wallet action:"setup"

This prints your address and opens a funding QR code. The private key is stored locally at ~/.blockrun/.session and never leaves your machine. :::

:::step{title="Fund it with USDC"} Send $5 USDC on Base to the address from Step 1 — withdraw from Coinbase (pick the Base network) or bridge via bridge.base.org.

Prefer Solana? Run blockrun_wallet action:"chain" chain:"solana" then action:"setup" for a Solana funding address — see Wallet Setup. :::

:::step{title="Make a paid call"} Ask your assistant — or call the SDK — and the payment settles automatically.

Use blockrun_chat to ask gpt-5.5: write a haiku about micropayments

from blockrun_llm import LLMClient
client = LLMClient()
print(client.chat("openai/gpt-5.5", "Write a haiku about micropayments."))

:::

:::step{title="Check your balance"} Confirm the charge — each call costs a fraction of a cent.

blockrun_wallet action:"status"

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:::warning If a call returns 402 Payment Required after retrying, your wallet is empty or on the wrong chain. Run blockrun_wallet action:"setup" and confirm you funded the active chain. :::

What's next?

::::cards

:::card{title="Browse all tools" href="../mcp/blockrun-mcp.md" icon="Boxes"} The full list of 18 blockrun_* tools — chat, image, video, search, markets, RPC, and more. :::

:::card{title="Explore the models" href="../products/intelligence/overview.md" icon="Brain"} 50+ LLMs with live pricing, plus smart routing to cut costs automatically. :::

:::card{title="How payment works" href="../x402/how-it-works.md" icon="Zap"} Understand x402, USDC settlement, and why there are no API keys. :::

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