Coinbase just gave AI agents their own crypto wallets. Base MCP, a new Model Context Protocol server, connects AI clients directly to Base Account smart wallets, letting them check balances, swap tokens, sign messages, and execute DeFi transactions without users needing to write a single line of custom code.
The system is non-custodial, meaning the MCP server never holds private keys. Every transaction requires user sign-off before it hits the blockchain.
How it works, in plain English
The Model Context Protocol is an open standard that lets AI models interact with external tools and data sources. In this case, the “tool” is a smart wallet on the Base network. Base MCP bridges that gap, translating natural language prompts into on-chain actions.
Setup involves four steps: connecting to the MCP server, installing the required skill package, authenticating via Base Account OAuth, and testing prompts. Authentication runs on OAuth 2.1, the same security framework that powers login systems across most of the modern web.
