Think of the Model Context Protocol as a universal remote for AI systems. Instead of every developer building a custom connection between an AI model and an external data source, MCP provides one standardized interface that works across the board. It is, in the words of its early advocates, the USB-C port for AI.
Anthropic introduced MCP on November 25, 2024, as an open-source standard hosted at modelcontextprotocol.io. The core idea is straightforward: give AI models like Claude a secure, consistent way to reach external data, whether that means a calendar, a company database, or a blockchain.
From enterprise software to blockchain wallets
OpenAI, Google Cloud, Databricks, Oracle, and Stripe have all added MCP support, bringing the standard into enterprise environments where interoperability headaches are a daily reality.
The crypto-specific applications are where things get genuinely interesting for digital asset markets. Alchemy launched an MCP server around May 2025, enabling AI models to query blockchain data directly through the protocol. Coinbase followed with its Base MCP integration, which allows users to manage wallets and interact with on-chain activity through natural language interfaces.
