// MCP TOKEN COST

The Genesis MCP server costs 40,388 tokens before the first call.

Every request your agent makes carries every tool definition this server exposes — context your code, documents and conversation can't use, mostly for tools the agent never calls. You don't need them all in the window, and you don't have to pay for them.

QUICK ANSWER The Genesis MCP server's 252 tool definitions consume 40,388 tokens — 20% of a 200k context window, and 22× the median MCP server (1,866 tokens). A scoped grant exposing only the tools you use cuts that roughly in proportion.

MEASURED FROM SCHEMAS tiktoken o200k_base · rank #120 of 12,801 measured servers · refreshed every build Method →

// CONTEXT WINDOW SHARE

What that costs before your agent starts working.

Tool definitions are overhead: they occupy context on every request and compete with your code, documents and conversation history for the same window.

200K WINDOW 20%

1M WINDOW 4.0%

Corpus context: Genesis ranks #120 of 12,801 measured MCP servers by definition cost. The median is 1,866 tokens, p90 is 13,646, and the heaviest (Ainumbers Mcp Apps) is 442,891 — 221% of a 200k window on its own. New to this? See MCP token cost and context window in the glossary.

Token cost is one axis. See the risk picture across your whole stack →

// PER-TOOL BREAKDOWN

Where the 40,388 tokens go.

Each row is one tool definition as a tools/list entry — name, description and input schema — counted with o200k_base. Average: 160 tokens per tool.

Tool	Category	Tokens	% of server
dials_createMessagingCampaign	Write	581	1.4%
runner_startJob	Execute	553	1.4%
dials_deployWorkflow	Execute	551	1.4%
dials_recoverOutboundCall	Read	516	1.3%
dials_createOutboundCall	Write	514	1.3%
dials_validateOutboundCall	Read	511	1.3%
dials_createRoutingRule	Write	474	1.2%
dials_searchNumbers	Read	460	1.1%
dials_createOutboundMessage	Write	459	1.1%
dials_createVoiceProfile	Write	450	1.1%
dials_registerEmergencyAddress	Write	447	1.1%
dials_createMessagingBrand	Write	440	1.1%
blinds_ownerReserve	Read	419	1.0%
iam_runnerSelfExecutionGrant	Read	360	0.9%
runner_getJobEvents	Read	356	0.9%
hives_invoke_deployment	Execute	353	0.9%
hives_invoke_function	Execute	350	0.9%
dials_createHumanProfile	Write	339	0.8%
dials_createMessageTemplate	Write	339	0.8%
relays_createRecord	Write	333	0.8%
hives_marketplace_publish	Write	323	0.8%
runner_getJobResult	Read	318	0.8%
runner_cancelJob	Destructive	313	0.8%
runner_getJob	Read	311	0.8%
blinds_ownerP256Ensure	Read	303	0.8%
beacons_enrollBridgeDevice	Read	300	0.7%
blinds_ownerAttach	Write	296	0.7%
blinds_ownerSign	Read	295	0.7%
hives_create_function	Write	290	0.7%
dials_createAgent	Write	286	0.7%
minds_insertEpisodicMemory	Write	281	0.7%
dials_assignCampaignNumber	Write	277	0.7%
hives_create_deployment	Write	272	0.7%
hives_update_function	Write	269	0.7%
hives_query_deployment_logs	Read	264	0.7%
hives_configure_native_queue_consumer	Write	262	0.6%
dials_assignNumber	Write	261	0.6%
hives_create_bucket	Write	253	0.6%
hives_mount_volume	Read	250	0.6%
hives_query_logs	Read	245	0.6%
dials_updateNumberCallerName	Write	243	0.6%
foundry_createChatCompletion	Write	243	0.6%
dials_provisionNumber	Read	234	0.6%
dials_disableRoutingRule	Write	234	0.6%
hives_generate_presigned_url	Write	228	0.6%
hives_get_project_activity	Read	227	0.6%
dials_deleteNumber	Destructive	224	0.6%
hives_marketplace_list_packages	Read	223	0.6%
hives_set_cors_config	Write	221	0.5%
hives_create_volume	Write	220	0.5%
dials_releaseNumber	Read	215	0.5%
hives_get_function_invocations_series	Read	215	0.5%
hives_send_native_queue	Write	213	0.5%
hives_get_deployment_metrics	Read	209	0.5%
hives_get_function_metrics	Read	207	0.5%
hives_get_cron_runs	Read	202	0.5%
hives_bulk_upsert_secrets	Write	201	0.5%
minds_createMind	Write	201	0.5%
fleets_launchAgent	Execute	197	0.5%
hives_get_resource_usage	Read	195	0.5%
dials_reconcileNumberInventory	Read	193	0.5%
hives_list_projects	Read	192	0.5%
hives_get_latency_metrics	Read	190	0.5%
hives_get_request_metrics	Read	190	0.5%
hives_list_deployments	Read	190	0.5%
hives_marketplace_install	Write	190	0.5%
hives_create_secret	Write	189	0.5%
hives_get_error_metrics	Read	188	0.5%
hives_get_project_metrics	Read	187	0.5%
hives_create_native_queue	Write	187	0.5%
dials_listRoutingRules	Read	186	0.5%
hives_configure_native_queue	Write	186	0.5%
hives_marketplace_update	Write	186	0.5%
dials_listMessagingCampaigns	Read	185	0.5%
hives_update_cron	Write	185	0.5%
dials_listMessagingBrands	Read	183	0.5%
dials_listMessages	Read	182	0.5%
dials_listMessageTemplates	Read	182	0.5%
dials_listWorkflows	Read	182	0.5%
hives_upload_deployment	Write	179	0.4%
fleets_submitTask	Write	177	0.4%
relays_updateRecord	Write	175	0.4%
beacons_issueBridgeDeviceChallenge	Write	172	0.4%
flocks_activateNode	Write	171	0.4%
hives_create_project	Write	171	0.4%
flocks_rotateNodeCredential	Destructive	169	0.4%
hives_create_cron	Write	168	0.4%
hives_list_objects	Read	167	0.4%
hives_update_project	Write	166	0.4%
hives_rollback_deployment	Read	165	0.4%
hives_update_project_settings	Write	163	0.4%
iam_createOrgApiKey	Write	162	0.4%
fleets_stopInstance	Execute	160	0.4%
fleets_startInstance	Execute	157	0.4%
hives_set_context_project	Write	157	0.4%
hives_update_secret	Write	156	0.4%
fleets_setConnection	Write	154	0.4%
dials_getOperatingSurface	Read	152	0.4%
dials_listNumberReconciliations	Read	152	0.4%
hives_marketplace_list_versions	Read	152	0.4%
hives_list_functions	Read	151	0.4%
dials_listVoiceProfiles	Read	150	0.4%
dials_getConsoleSummary	Read	149	0.4%
dials_listHumanProfiles	Read	149	0.4%
dials_listNumberDrift	Read	147	0.4%
hives_nack_native_queue	Read	147	0.4%
hives_publish_native_topic	Write	147	0.4%
dials_listAgents	Read	146	0.4%
dials_listCalls	Read	146	0.4%
dials_listNumbers	Read	145	0.4%
hives_list_secrets	Read	145	0.4%
hives_ack_native_queue	Read	144	0.4%
hives_receive_native_queue	Read	144	0.4%
hives_list_project_environment	Read	143	0.4%
hives_upload_object	Write	142	0.4%
minds_searchMemory	Read	137	0.3%
hives_upload_object_by_key	Write	136	0.3%
hives_list_volumes	Read	135	0.3%
beacons_acknowledgeBridgeDeviceRevocation	Read	134	0.3%
silos_createProject	Write	133	0.3%
flocks_enrollNode	Read	132	0.3%
flocks_exchangeJoinToken	Read	130	0.3%
hives_unmount_volume	Read	129	0.3%
genesis_search_tools	Read	128	0.3%
hives_replay_native_queue	Read	128	0.3%
henry_createRun	Write	128	0.3%
hives_marketplace_installed	Read	127	0.3%
fleets_commandAgent	Write	127	0.3%
hives_delete_volume	Destructive	125	0.3%
hives_get_volume	Read	125	0.3%
hives_subscribe_native_topic	Read	125	0.3%
beacons_provisionBridgeFleet	Write	125	0.3%
henry_commandRun	Execute	123	0.3%
hives_list_buckets	Read	123	0.3%
minds_getEpisodicMemory	Read	123	0.3%
hives_marketplace_get_package	Read	122	0.3%
henry_decideApproval	Read	121	0.3%
hives_list_crons	Read	121	0.3%
hives_list_domains	Read	119	0.3%
hives_select_runtime	Write	119	0.3%
hives_delete_dlq_native_queue	Destructive	118	0.3%
hives_unsubscribe_native_topic	Destructive	118	0.3%
hives_reveal_project_environment	Read	117	0.3%
beacons_updateBridgeDevice	Write	117	0.3%
hives_marketplace_reconcile	Execute	113	0.3%
relays_createZone	Write	113	0.3%
hives_delete_object	Destructive	109	0.3%
hives_get_dashboard_metrics	Read	109	0.3%
flocks_heartbeatNode	Read	108	0.3%
relays_listRecords	Read	108	0.3%
hives_update_project_environment	Write	107	0.3%
hives_marketplace_get_installation	Read	106	0.3%
hives_marketplace_uninstall	Destructive	105	0.3%
hives_download_object_by_key	Read	105	0.3%
hives_add_domain	Write	105	0.3%
hives_delete_object_by_key	Destructive	104	0.3%
hives_reconcile	Write	104	0.3%
hives_reveal_secret	Read	102	0.3%
hives_purge_dlq_native_queue	Destructive	101	0.3%
hives_dlq_stats_native_queue	Read	101	0.3%
henry_putCredential	Write	100	0.2%
hives_create_native_topic	Write	99	0.2%
hives_purge_native_queue	Destructive	97	0.2%
hives_consumers_native_queue	Read	97	0.2%
hives_dead_letters_native_queue	Read	97	0.2%
hives_get_cors_config	Read	96	0.2%
hives_subscriptions_native_topic	Read	96	0.2%
hives_promote_deployment	Write	95	0.2%
hives_get_secret	Read	94	0.2%
hives_inspect_native_queue	Read	94	0.2%
hives_inspect_native_topic	Read	94	0.2%
hives_pause_native_queue	Read	94	0.2%
hives_stats_native_queue	Read	94	0.2%
minds_listMinds	Read	94	0.2%
flocks_renameNode	Write	94	0.2%
hives_resume_native_queue	Write	94	0.2%
hives_trigger_cron	Execute	93	0.2%
flocks_createJoinToken	Write	93	0.2%
hives_delete_native_queue	Destructive	92	0.2%
hives_delete_native_topic	Destructive	92	0.2%
hives_pause_cron	Read	91	0.2%
hives_resume_cron	Write	91	0.2%
hives_get_cron	Read	90	0.2%
foundry_createNativeCreditCheckout	Write	90	0.2%
hives_delete_bucket	Destructive	89	0.2%
hives_delete_cron	Destructive	89	0.2%
foundry_ensureBillingProfile	Read	89	0.2%
genesis_call	Read	89	0.2%
hives_get_bucket	Read	89	0.2%
hives_get_deployment	Read	89	0.2%
hives_delete_secret	Destructive	87	0.2%
hives_get_function	Read	87	0.2%
foundry_createEmbedding	Write	87	0.2%
hives_cancel_deployment	Destructive	86	0.2%
minds_getMind	Read	86	0.2%
hives_remove_native_queue_consumer	Destructive	85	0.2%
fleets_listInstances	Read	85	0.2%
hives_get_native_queue_consumer	Read	85	0.2%
hives_stop_deployment	Execute	84	0.2%
relays_listZones	Read	83	0.2%
hives_marketplace_featured	Read	82	0.2%
iam_listOrgApiKeys	Read	82	0.2%
hives_delete_function	Destructive	81	0.2%
relays_deleteRecord	Destructive	81	0.2%
hives_marketplace_categories	Read	80	0.2%
hives_delete_deployment	Destructive	79	0.2%
relays_getDnssec	Read	79	0.2%
beacons_listBridgeDeviceRevocations	Read	77	0.2%
hives_get_realtime_metrics	Read	74	0.2%
fleets_listTasks	Read	73	0.2%
hives_list_project_runtimes	Read	73	0.2%
fleets_recoverAgent	Read	72	0.2%
hives_list_native_queue	Read	72	0.2%
hives_list_native_topic	Read	72	0.2%
silos_getProject	Read	72	0.2%
fleets_stopAgent	Execute	71	0.2%
henry_getRun	Read	71	0.2%
hives_get_project_settings	Read	71	0.2%
fleets_getTaskReceipt	Read	70	0.2%
beacons_revokeBridgeDevice	Destructive	69	0.2%
fleets_cancelTask	Destructive	69	0.2%
fleets_getAgent	Read	69	0.2%
fleets_getInstance	Read	69	0.2%
flocks_revokeNode	Destructive	68	0.2%
fleets_getTask	Read	67	0.2%
foundry_getRegistryModel	Read	67	0.2%
hives_get_project	Read	67	0.2%
hives_get_runtime	Read	67	0.2%
iam_revokeApiKey	Destructive	66	0.2%
relays_enroll	Read	66	0.2%
relays_getZone	Read	65	0.2%
henry_listRuns	Read	62	0.2%
flocks_getEnrollmentReadiness	Read	61	0.2%
relays_getEnrollment	Read	59	0.1%
flocks_listNodes	Read	58	0.1%
henry_getConfig	Read	58	0.1%
runner_listJobs	Read	57	0.1%
foundry_readNativeCreditBalance	Read	55	0.1%
hives_list_runtimes	Read	55	0.1%
fleets_deleteConnection	Destructive	54	0.1%
hives_detach_context_project	Destructive	54	0.1%
fleets_getConnection	Read	54	0.1%
hives_list_regions	Read	54	0.1%
runner_getCatalog	Read	54	0.1%
silos_listProjects	Read	54	0.1%
beacons_listBridgeDevices	Read	53	0.1%
fleets_listAgents	Read	52	0.1%
foundry_readBillingProfile	Read	52	0.1%
hives_get_context_project	Read	52	0.1%
foundry_listApiKeys	Read	46	0.1%
foundry_listRegistryModels	Read	46	0.1%
foundry_listModels	Read	43	0.1%

// CUT THE COST

Your agent uses a handful of these tools. It pays for all 252.

You don't need all 252 of those definitions in the window. PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway that sits in front of Genesis: only the tools you grant are exposed to the agent, the rest never load. A smaller window means a sharper agent — less noise when it picks a tool — and every request costs less:

Grant scope	Definition cost	Reduction
All 252 tools (no gateway)	40,388 tokens	—
3 granted tools	~481 tokens	−99%
5 granted tools	~801 tokens	−98%
10 granted tools	~1,603 tokens	−96%

The risk dividend: 27 of these 252 tools are critical-risk (destructive or financial) and cost 2,824 tokens (7% of the definition load). Block them — the recommended starter policy — and you reclaim that context before tuning anything else.

Create a free account and register Genesis — nothing to install.
Grant only the tools you use — ungranted definitions never enter the context window.
Point your MCP client (Claude, Cursor, anything) at your gateway URL.

CUT GENESIS TOKEN COST →

Instant setup, no code required.

Model your own stack in the token-cost calculator, or see the Genesis policy for what a sensible grant looks like.

//FAQ

Genesis token-cost questions.

How many tokens does the Genesis MCP server use?+

Its 252 tool definitions total 40,388 tokens — 20% of a 200k context window — measured with tiktoken o200k_base over the serialised tools/list payload. Exact counts vary slightly by client and model.

Why does Genesis consume tokens before I send a message?+

MCP clients load every connected server's tool definitions — name, description, and input schema — into the model's context so it knows what it can call. That payload is charged against your context window on every request, whether or not a tool is used.

How do I reduce Genesis's token usage?+

Expose fewer tools. A PolicyLayer grant scopes Genesis to only the tools you allow — ungranted definitions are filtered out of the tool list, so they never enter the context window. A grant of 3 typical tools costs roughly 481 tokens, a 99% reduction.

Does deferred tool loading fix this?+

Partially, in some clients. Claude Code defers MCP tool schemas behind a tool-search step by default, and VS Code has experimental grouping — but you still pay tokens per search and reload, and Cursor, Windsurf and Gemini CLI load definitions upfront. Reducing the exposed tool set cuts the cost in every client.

// METHOD & REVIEW

How these numbers were measured.

01

Serialisation

Each tool is serialised as a tools/list entry — name, description, input schema — from the schemas in the PolicyLayer scan database. Clients differ slightly in framing, so treat counts as close estimates.

02

Tokeniser

tiktoken o200k_base (GPT-4o/o-series). Anthropic's current tokeniser isn't published, so Claude's exact counts will differ; for English text and JSON schemas the totals are close enough to treat these as estimates.

03

Deferred loading

Some clients now defer schema loading (Claude Code's tool search; VS Code experimental grouping). You still pay per search and reload — and Cursor, Windsurf and Gemini CLI load everything upfront.

Computed 21-10-2026 from the PolicyLayer scan database over all 252 catalogued Genesis tools. Counts refresh with every site build.