Quickstart: MCP Server
Connect Payaion to your AI coding assistant in under 2 minutes. The MCP server gives AI agents direct access to file uploads, marketplace listings, and paid downloads — no HTTP code required.
What is MCP?
Model Context Protocol (MCP) is a standard that lets AI assistants call external tools. Payaion's MCP server exposes upload, marketplace, and download tools that your agent can invoke directly.
Prerequisites
None. The server starts without an API key and the transfer tools work immediately — uploads run as a guest: 100 MB per file, 24-hour link, no account.
When you need a key
- Bigger files, longer links, stored history
- Required to price downloads and get paid
- Mint one by wallet signature — no browser needed
Option A: Node.js (npx)
Add this to your MCP client config (e.g. ~/.cursor/mcp.json for Cursor):
{
"mcpServers": {
"payaion": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "@payaion/mcp"]
}
}
}Option B: Python (uvx)
{
"mcpServers": {
"payaion": {
"command": "uvx",
"args": ["payaion-mcp"]
}
}
}Or with pip: pip install payaion-mcp, then use "command": "python", "args": ["-m", "payaion_mcp"].
Supported clients
Any MCP client that supports stdio transport:
Cursor
Config: ~/.cursor/mcp.json
Claude Desktop
Config: claude_desktop_config.json
Cline
Config: VS Code extension settings
Continue
Config: config.json
After saving the config, restart your MCP client. The agent gets 9 tools: transfer (the recommended one-shot), upload, upload from URL, check status, get download URL, list on marketplace, browse the marketplace, get payment requirements, and purchase an asset.
Environment variables
| Variable | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
PAYAION_API_KEY | No | Raises the limits and is required to sell. Without it you upload as a guest. |
PAYAION_API_BASE_URL | No | API base URL (defaults to production) |
Test it
After restarting your client, ask your AI agent:
"Upload the file report.pdf and give me a share link"
The agent will use the transfer tool to upload your file and return a download URL.