GoldRush API

Overview

GoldRush by Covalent provides blockchain data across 100+ chains through a unified REST API, real-time WebSocket streams, a CLI, and an x402 pay-per-request proxy. This skill enables AI agents to query wallet balances, token prices, transaction history, NFT holdings, and DEX pair data without building chain-specific integrations.

When to Use This Skill

• Retrieving wallet token balances or total portfolio value across any chain
• Fetching transaction history or decoded event logs for an address
• Getting current or historical token prices (USD or native)
• Monitoring DEX pairs, liquidity events, and real-time OHLCV candles via WebSocket
• Building block explorers, portfolio dashboards, tax tools, or DeFi analytics
• Accessing on-chain data with no signup via x402 pay-per-request

How It Works

Step 1: Get credentials

Sign up at https://goldrush.dev for a free API key. For agent-native no-signup access, use the x402 proxy instead.

Step 2: Set your API key

export GOLDRUSH_API_KEY="your_api_key_here"

Step 3: Query data

REST API (most endpoints):

# Wallet token balances on Ethereum
curl -H "Authorization: Bearer $GOLDRUSH_API_KEY"   "https://api.covalenthq.com/v1/eth-mainnet/address/0xADDRESS/balances_v2/"

CLI (quick terminal queries):

npx @covalenthq/goldrush-cli balances --chain eth-mainnet --address 0xADDRESS

SDK (in code):

import GoldRushClient from "@covalenthq/client-sdk";
const client = new GoldRushClient(process.env.GOLDRUSH_API_KEY);
const resp = await client.BalanceService.getTokenBalancesForWalletAddress(
  "eth-mainnet", "0xADDRESS"
);

Examples

Example 1: Token Balances

curl -H "Authorization: Bearer $GOLDRUSH_API_KEY"   "https://api.covalenthq.com/v1/eth-mainnet/address/0xd8dA6BF26964aF9D7eEd9e03E53415D37aA96045/balances_v2/"

Example 2: Token Price History

curl -H "Authorization: Bearer $GOLDRUSH_API_KEY"   "https://api.covalenthq.com/v1/pricing/historical_by_addresses_v2/eth-mainnet/USD/0xA0b86991c6218b36c1d19D4a2e9Eb0cE3606eB48/"

Example 3: Transaction History

curl -H "Authorization: Bearer $GOLDRUSH_API_KEY"   "https://api.covalenthq.com/v1/eth-mainnet/address/0xADDRESS/transactions_v3/"

Example 4: Real-time OHLCV via WebSocket

// Stream live price candles for a token pair
const ws = new WebSocket("wss://streaming.covalenthq.com/v1/eth-mainnet/ohlcv");
ws.on("message", (data) => console.log(JSON.parse(data)));

Best Practices

✅ Use chain slugs: eth-mainnet, matic-mainnet, base-mainnet, bsc-mainnet — full list at https://goldrush.dev/docs/networks ✅ Store API key in GOLDRUSH_API_KEY env var — never hardcode ✅ Use WebSocket streams for real-time data rather than polling REST ✅ Use SDK cursor pagination for large result sets ❌ Don't use x402 for high-volume use cases — get a standard API key instead ❌ Don't use chain IDs (e.g., 1) — use chain slugs (e.g., eth-mainnet)

Security & Safety Notes

• API key in GOLDRUSH_API_KEY environment variable only
• x402 payments use USDC on Base — set spending limits before autonomous agent use
• Read-only data API — no write operations, no transaction signing

Common Pitfalls

Problem: 401 Unauthorized
Solution: Ensure API key is in Authorization: Bearer header, not query string

Problem: chain_name not found
Solution: Use chain slug format — see https://goldrush.dev/docs/networks

Problem: Empty results for new wallet
Solution: Some endpoints require on-chain activity; new wallets with no transactions return empty arrays, not errors

Related Skills

• @goldrush-streaming-api — real-time WebSocket DEX pair and OHLCV streams
• @goldrush-x402 — pay-per-request blockchain data without API key
• @goldrush-cli — terminal-first blockchain data queries