Head to head · Exchange market data · October 2026 research run

Bithumb Open API vs Bitstamp API

Bithumb Open API and Bitstamp API score within a point of each other on agent readiness, 50.6 (D) and 50.4 (D). Bitstamp API leads on reliability, payments & pricing and transparency & trust. Both do exchange market data.

Best crypto exchange APIs and MCP servers for AI agents · All 210 exchanges comparisons

Which one, for what

Bithumb Open API D

Best for KRW-market trading for agents acting for a verified Korean account, with a vendor-built MCP server, CLI and skills.

Ahead on

  • Schema & documentation, 64 against 51
  • Agent ergonomics, 67 against 58
  • Maintenance & community, 69 against 28

Also in its favour

  • Runs on your own machine

Watch for

No sandbox or testnet; every order uses real funds

Bitstamp API D

Best for An agent that needs a long-running regulated spot venue in the EU, UK and US with a sandbox and per-endpoint key permissions, and can do its own signing.

Ahead on

  • Reliability, 63 against 34
  • Payments & pricing, 20 against 15
  • Transparency & trust, 53 against 47

Watch for

No official MCP server, SDK, llms.txt or OpenAPI file; the registry's Bitstamp servers are third parties proxying public market data

Why the edge

Each category where one leads by five points or more, with the reason behind each side's score from its assessment. The numbers are in the table below; this is what they stand for.

Maintenance & community Bithumb Open API +41

Bithumb Open API 69

Read as a closed service. Rate limits updated 27 October 2026 and the ticker cap effective 13 October 2026 (30). Batch orders 20 August, Private v1 retired 30 September, the ticker cap 13 October and the limits page 27 October 2026 (20). A phone support line, dated notices and a GitHub repository with no open issues and one commit; replies not observed (9 of 15). The MCP server is not in the official MCP registry and there is no SDK; the CLI and MCP packages are current (5 of 15). The MCP package depends only on @modelcontextprotocol/sdk ^1.26 on Node 18, with no public source or CI (5 of 10). 30 + 20 + 9 + 5 + 5 = 69.

Bitstamp API 28

Read as a closed service. The last dated API change is 28 August 2026, 67 days before the check (20). Only one dated entry in the last 90 days, after 1 July and 12 June (0). No public repository or issue tracker, support pages did not load and support.bitstamp.net did not resolve; a changelog exists (8 of 25). No official SDKs and no MCP registry presence of Bitstamp's own (0). No package to assess (0). 20 + 0 + 8 + 0 + 0 = 28.

Reliability Bitstamp API +29

Bithumb Open API 34

Read with the hosted lines. No status page found on apidocs.bithumb.com or in llms.txt; wallet-status and notices endpoints stand in (0). No readable incident history, though two notices record a public WebSocket interruption and a brief service break (5). Rate limits documented per category with numbers, updated 27 October 2026 (15). A breach is described only as a temporary restriction, with no status code, header or Retry-After, and no client order id or idempotency key is documented; 422 order_not_ready and 500 server_error say to retry later (4 of 15). No SLA found (0). The API is generally available; the MCP server and CLI are at 0.8.5 (10). 0 + 5 + 15 + 4 + 0 + 10 = 34.

Bitstamp API 63

Read with the hosted lines on the HTTP API v2 at www.bitstamp.net/api/v2/. status.bitstamp.net is a Statuspage site with component history (20). Its feed for 5 August to 3 November 2026 has 17 entries, among them withdrawals failing on 14 networks for about 3 hours on 21 August, database maintenance with login failures and intermittent trading interruptions for about 1 hour 44 minutes on 23 September, a 39-minute halt of all markets on 5 August, and delistings and single-asset suspensions. One major (10). Rate limits with numbers, 400 a second and 10,000 per 10 minutes (15). Limit errors are named (400.002, 400.067, 400.068) but there is no Retry-After or backoff guidance, duplicate client order ids are allowed, and the only retry guidance is to check the order after a 500.016 timeout (8 of 15). No SLA found (0). Generally available (10). 20 + 10 + 15 + 8 + 0 + 10 = 63.

Schema & documentation Bithumb Open API +13

Bithumb Open API 64

No OpenAPI found; the reference is a readme.io site with Markdown twins, and the MCP tool schemas weren't read since the server's source isn't published (5 of 25). llms.txt on apidocs.bithumb.com (10). Reference pages state purpose and the skills say when to use each module and when not to (15 of 20). Typed parameters with enums for side, order type and time in force (10 of 15). Examples in several languages and an error-code page with names, statuses and meanings (12 of 15). Versions per endpoint (v1, v2, v2.1.5) and notices with effective dates (12 of 15). 5 + 10 + 15 + 10 + 12 + 12 = 64.

Bitstamp API 51

No OpenAPI or other machine-readable contract was found on the API page or elsewhere (0). No llms.txt or Markdown docs (0). The single documentation page describes each endpoint's purpose and parameters, with notes such as the 10-second cache on open orders and the Travel Rule fields, but not when to use one endpoint over another (14 of 20). Parameters are typed with enumerations (margin mode CROSS or ISOLATED, margin multiplier 1 to 25, order types) and required fields marked (11 of 15). Signing examples in Python, Java and C++, and error families with numbered codes and explanations (13 of 15). Version v2 in the path and header, a dated changelog from 7 April 2023 to 28 August 2026, and a 410.001 code for deprecated endpoints, with no stated notice period (13 of 15). 0 + 0 + 14 + 11 + 13 + 13 = 51.

Agent ergonomics Bithumb Open API +9

Bithumb Open API 67

Graded on the REST API with the MCP server. 41 tools in all, selectable by module, so 15 for 11 to 30 or more and 8 added back for the module switch (23 of 25). Candle counts, order paging and a 200-market cap on the ticker (13 of 20). Stable error.name values with retry guidance for order_not_ready and server_error (14 of 20). No client order id or idempotency key documented; the CLI's per-profile read-only flag, the MCP --read-only flag and the skills' read-only gate help, and readOnlyHint annotations weren't checked (9 of 20). Few required parameters, but no official SDK beyond the CLI and a CCXT guide (8 of 15). 23 + 13 + 14 + 9 + 8 = 67.

Bitstamp API 58

Graded on the REST API. Order book grouping and transaction time windows size responses, but there is no field selection and no MCP surface (15 of 25). Offset, limit, since and sort on transaction history, until_id windows on order-data replay (14 of 20). response_code and response_explanation name the failure, such as 400.009 insufficient balance, 403.004 trading blocked and 500.025 insufficient liquidity (16 of 20). No idempotency, since client_order_id duplicates are allowed since November 2023 and the docs say only to check the order id after a timeout; the kill switch limits damage (8 of 20). Few required parameters, but no official SDK in any language (5 of 15). 15 + 14 + 16 + 8 + 5 = 58.

Transparency & trust Bitstamp API +6

Bithumb Open API 47

The editorial half. A closed service whose terms couldn't be read (timeouts and a title-only page); the kit is MIT with a disclaimer naming Bithumb Co., Ltd. (10 of 30). No privacy policy read (0 of 30, unchecked). Dated retirement of WebSocket Private v1 and effective dates on breaking notices (14 of 20). No subprocessor or data-location statement read (0 of 20). 10 + 0 + 14 + 0 = 24.

Bitstamp API 53

The editorial half. A closed service whose terms of use loaded empty for our reader, so the licence and clauses are unknown (8 of 30). The privacy policy loaded empty, so retention and data handling are unchecked (0 of 30). A 410.001 code marks deprecated endpoints and the changelog records replacements such as trading-pairs-info by markets, with no notice period stated (8 of 20). Subprocessors and data locations are in the unread privacy policy (0). 8 + 0 + 8 + 0 = 16.

Payments & pricing Bitstamp API +5

Bithumb Open API 15

No machine payment protocol (0). The fee page timed out on every attempt, so no price is recorded (0 of 20, unchecked). Public market data needs no key, card or account; trading needs a verified Korean account. Judgement call (15 of 20). A person must sign up, pass identity checks and issue keys in the browser (0). 0 + 0 + 15 + 0 = 15.

Bitstamp API 20

No machine payment protocol (0). The fee schedule page loaded empty, the API's fee endpoints need a key, and no rate could be read, so fees are scored as not published (0, unchecked). The API is free, public endpoints need no key and the sandbox needs no money (20). A person must sign up in a browser with identity checks and mint the key (0). 0 + 0 + 20 + 0 = 20.

Score by category

CategoryWeight this runBithumb Open APIBitstamp APIEdge
Reliability16%203463Bitstamp API +29
Performance10%pendingpendingpendingnot scored in this run
Schema & documentation13%16.26451Bithumb Open API +13
Agent ergonomics13%16.26758Bithumb Open API +9
Security & auth14%17.56060even
Payments & pricing10%12.51520Bitstamp API +5
Task success10%pendingpendingpendingnot scored in this run
Maintenance & community7%8.86928Bithumb Open API +41
Transparency & trust7%8.84753Bitstamp API +6
Negative events≤1500
TotalD 50.6/100D 50.4/100

Facts side by side

FactBithumb Open APIBitstamp API
KindHTTP APIHTTP API
VendorBithumb Co., Ltd.Bitstamp Ltd.
Hosted endpointno (local only)no (local only)
Transportsstdio
AuthAPI keyAPI key
PricingPay per usePay per use
x402nono
LicencenoneProprietary hosted API under Bitstamp's terms of use, which our reader couldn't load
Tools exposed41none
Read-only variant documentedyesno
llms.txtyesno
Last release2026-10-132026-08-28
Terms last updatedcouldn't be readcouldn't be read
Privacy policy last updatedno document linkedcouldn't be read
Customer content may train modelscouldn't be readcouldn't be read
Terms restrict automated accesscouldn't be readcouldn't be read
Terms restrict benchmarkingcouldn't be readcouldn't be read
Terms or service can change without noticecouldn't be readcouldn't be read
Arbitration or class-action waivercouldn't be readcouldn't be read
Popularity6 starsnone

Verdicts

Bithumb Open API

Bithumb runs an official local MCP server with 41 tools, module selection and a read-only flag, beside a CLI with per-profile read-only gating and six agent skills, over an API with scoped one-year keys and a mandatory IP list. There is no sandbox, no status page, no documented 429 behaviour, and the fees and terms couldn't be read.

Bitstamp API

Bitstamp documents its v2 API on one static page with numeric rate limits, per-endpoint key permissions, an IP allow-list, a kill switch and a sandbox. There is no official MCP server, duplicate client order ids are allowed, and the fee schedule, terms, privacy policy and country list render by script and could not be read.

Before you call either

Bithumb Open API

  1. Ask for a key with asset and order inquiry plus order placement only, never withdrawals, with your IP registered; keys expire after one year and a wrong IP answers 401 NotAllowIP
  2. Start the server with --modules market,account,trade --read-only for analysis and drop --read-only only when the person asks to trade; deposit and withdraw modules stay off
  3. Prefer the bithumb CLI for writes, as the skills do, and check bithumb config show --json for a read-only profile before any order
  4. Keep the ticker's markets parameter at 200 or fewer, batch orders at 30 and cancels at 30 per request, and stay under 140 private calls a second per category
  5. Retry 422 order_not_ready and 500 server_error after a pause; there is no sandbox, so start with the smallest order the market allows

Bitstamp API

  1. Mint a key with only the endpoint permissions the task needs and an IP allow-list; keep revoke_all_api_keys in reach as a kill switch
  2. Treat client_order_id as a label, not a guard. On a timeout (500.016) fetch the order by client id before resending, because duplicates are accepted
  3. Use a fresh 36-character nonce and a timestamp within 150 seconds of server time on every request, or expect API0004 and API0017
  4. Stay under 400 requests a second and 10,000 per 10 minutes; 400.002 and 400.067 mean back off, and open-orders answers are cached for 10 seconds
  5. Start on sandbox.bitstamp.net with the same paths, and read the fee schedule in a browser before quoting costs, since it is unreadable to a plain fetch

Questions

Which is better for AI agents, Bithumb Open API or Bitstamp API?

Bithumb Open API and Bitstamp API score within a point of each other on agent readiness, 50.6 (D) and 50.4 (D). Bitstamp API leads on reliability, payments & pricing and transparency & trust.

Do Bithumb Open API and Bitstamp API need an API key?

Both need an API key.

Can an agent call Bithumb Open API and Bitstamp API without installing anything?

Bithumb Open API runs on your own machine, with no hosted endpoint listed. No hosted endpoint is listed for Bitstamp API.

Other comparisons with Bithumb Open API or Bitstamp API

Machine-readable

For companies

Do agents find, use and choose your tools?

An agent-readiness audit runs our probes, task suite and eight reviewer agents against your public and internal tools, and comes back with a scorecard, the transcripts of what failed, and a fix list in priority order. From $2,500, re-run included. We never take payment to move a rank. We do help companies earn one.