# set_etherscan_api_key

Set an Etherscan V2 API key for EVM transaction-history / allowance-enumeration / tx-explanation reads at runtime — no restart required. Takes precedence over ETHERSCAN_API_KEY env var and userConfig. One key works across all 5 supported EVM chains (Ethereum / Arbitrum / Polygon / Base / Optimism) via Etherscan's V2 unified API. Designed for the demo-mode flow where users want to enable tx-history / allowance / explain_tx tools without restarting their MCP client, but works in any mode. INPUT: bare API key only (34-char alphanumeric, e.g. ZQTKPM98R5N4YT8GMTBI3XR2P4HFZNTAYG). Pasting a URL is rejected to prevent prompt-injection redirects. WHERE TO GET ONE: https://etherscan.io/myapikey — sign in, click "Add", copy the key. Free tier covers personal-volume use comfortably (5 calls/sec, 100K calls/day). PERSISTENCE: process memory only. To save across restarts, run vaultpilot-mcp-setup (after exiting demo mode if applicable) and paste the same key when prompted. AGENT BEHAVIOR: when the user pastes a key in chat ('here's my Etherscan key: <34 chars>'), call this tool immediately. NEVER echo the key back in any subsequent response — treat it as secret-shaped.

Agent View of the PolicyLayer registry record for `set_etherscan_api_key`. HTML page: https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-szhygulin-vaultpilot-mcp/set-etherscan-api-key

## Facts

- Tool: `set_etherscan_api_key`
- Server: VaultPilot MCP (`vaultpilot-mcp`) — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-szhygulin-vaultpilot-mcp.md
- Install: `npx -y vaultpilot-mcp`
- Homepage: https://github.com/szhygulin/vaultpilot-mcp
- Risk category: Write (Medium risk)
- Registry record: grade F, identity unverified
- Server rate-limited: no
- Parameters: 1 (1 required)
- Recommended policy verdict: Rate-limited

## Parameters

| Parameter | Type | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `apiKey` | string | yes | Etherscan V2 API key (34-char alphanumeric, e.g. ZQTKPM98R5N4YT8GMTBI3XR2P4HFZNTAYG). Get one for free at https://etherscan.io/myapikey. One key works across al |

Parameters from the server's own tool schema.

## Example call (MCP tools/call, JSON-RPC 2.0)

```json
{
  "jsonrpc": "2.0",
  "id": 1,
  "method": "tools/call",
  "params": {
    "name": "set_etherscan_api_key",
    "arguments": {
      "apiKey": "<apiKey>"
    }
  }
}
```

## Why set_etherscan_api_key is rated Medium

This tool modifies configuration state (the active Etherscan API key) reversibly. It doesn't execute transactions, delete data, or move funds—it only updates a runtime configuration parameter. This qualifies as Write rather than Read (which would be purely retrieving existing keys).

From the tool's own definition: "Tool description states it sets/stores an Etherscan API key at runtime, taking precedence over environment variables and user config. The INPUT section specifies accepting a 34-char alphanumeric API key for storage."

Risk signals: Handles credentials or secrets (apiKey)

## Use case

AI agents use set_etherscan_api_key to create or update resources in VaultPilot MCP, usually the action step of a workflow, after the agent has gathered context. Every call changes real data in your VaultPilot MCP environment.

## Recommended policy (PolicyLayer)

Verdict: **Rate-limited**. Enforced by the PolicyLayer MCP gateway (https://policylayer.com/mcp-gateway) before a call reaches VaultPilot MCP:

```json
{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "set_etherscan_api_key": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "set_etherscan_api_key_rate",
          "window": "minute",
          "max": 30,
          "scope": "grant"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}
```

## Other tools on VaultPilot MCP (188)

- `prepare_btc_lifi_swap` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-szhygulin-vaultpilot-mcp/prepare-btc-lifi-swap.md
- `prepare_btc_rbf_bump` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-szhygulin-vaultpilot-mcp/prepare-btc-rbf-bump.md
- `prepare_jito_stake` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-szhygulin-vaultpilot-mcp/prepare-jito-stake.md
- `prepare_marginfi_init` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-szhygulin-vaultpilot-mcp/prepare-marginfi-init.md
- `prepare_solana_nonce_close` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-szhygulin-vaultpilot-mcp/prepare-solana-nonce-close.md
- `prepare_sunswap_swap` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-szhygulin-vaultpilot-mcp/prepare-sunswap-swap.md
- `prepare_uniswap_v3_burn` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-szhygulin-vaultpilot-mcp/prepare-uniswap-v3-burn.md
- `prepare_uniswap_v3_mint` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-szhygulin-vaultpilot-mcp/prepare-uniswap-v3-mint.md
- `remove_contact` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-szhygulin-vaultpilot-mcp/remove-contact.md
- `unregister_btc_multisig_wallet` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-szhygulin-vaultpilot-mcp/unregister-btc-multisig-wallet.md
- `combine_btc_psbts` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-szhygulin-vaultpilot-mcp/combine-btc-psbts.md
- `pair_ledger_btc` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-szhygulin-vaultpilot-mcp/pair-ledger-btc.md
- `prepare_aave_repay` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-szhygulin-vaultpilot-mcp/prepare-aave-repay.md
- `prepare_btc_multisig_send` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-szhygulin-vaultpilot-mcp/prepare-btc-multisig-send.md
- `prepare_compound_repay` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-szhygulin-vaultpilot-mcp/prepare-compound-repay.md
- `prepare_compound_supply` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-szhygulin-vaultpilot-mcp/prepare-compound-supply.md
- `prepare_curve_swap` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-szhygulin-vaultpilot-mcp/prepare-curve-swap.md
- `prepare_custom_call` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-szhygulin-vaultpilot-mcp/prepare-custom-call.md
- `prepare_kamino_init_user` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-szhygulin-vaultpilot-mcp/prepare-kamino-init-user.md
- `prepare_kamino_supply` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-szhygulin-vaultpilot-mcp/prepare-kamino-supply.md
- `prepare_lido_unstake` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-szhygulin-vaultpilot-mcp/prepare-lido-unstake.md
- `prepare_lido_unwrap` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-szhygulin-vaultpilot-mcp/prepare-lido-unwrap.md
- `prepare_lido_wrap` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-szhygulin-vaultpilot-mcp/prepare-lido-wrap.md
- `prepare_native_stake_deactivate` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-szhygulin-vaultpilot-mcp/prepare-native-stake-deactivate.md
- `prepare_native_stake_delegate` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-szhygulin-vaultpilot-mcp/prepare-native-stake-delegate.md
- `prepare_rocketpool_unstake` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-szhygulin-vaultpilot-mcp/prepare-rocketpool-unstake.md
- `prepare_safe_tx_execute` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-szhygulin-vaultpilot-mcp/prepare-safe-tx-execute.md
- `prepare_solana_lifi_swap` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-szhygulin-vaultpilot-mcp/prepare-solana-lifi-swap.md
- `prepare_solana_nonce_init` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-szhygulin-vaultpilot-mcp/prepare-solana-nonce-init.md
- `prepare_solana_swap` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-szhygulin-vaultpilot-mcp/prepare-solana-swap.md
- …and 158 more: https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-szhygulin-vaultpilot-mcp.md

## For agents

This record is a snapshot. Live verdicts and the full registry:

- Check every server in your MCP config at once: `npx -y policylayer stack`
- Vet a server before you add it: install the mcp-precheck skill — `npx skills add https://policylayer.com` (skill text: https://policylayer.com/skill.md)
- Query the registry over MCP: endpoint `https://api.policylayer.com/mcp` — tools `check_mcp_server`, `check_mcp_stack`, `check_tool`, `search_registry`, `get_change_events`

---

Source: the PolicyLayer MCP registry — one continuously verified record per MCP server. Full record: https://policylayer.com/registry?q=io-github-szhygulin-vaultpilot-mcp · API: https://policylayer.com/registry/api · Policy library: https://policylayer.com/policies/io-github-szhygulin-vaultpilot-mcp