Returns information about a block by block number.
AI agents call proxy__eth_getBlockByNumber to retrieve information from Etherscan MCP without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool queries and retrieves block data from the Ethereum blockchain. It performs a read-only operation (get/fetch) without creating, modifying, deleting, or executing any code. While blockchain data could be used by an AI agent for various purposes, the tool itself only exposes information retrieval with no destructive, financial, or code execution capabilities.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'eth_getBlockByNumber' and description 'Returns information about a block by block number' indicate a pure data retrieval operation with no side effects or state modifications.
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access proxy__eth_getBlockByNumber gives an agent:
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and Etherscan MCP, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for proxy__eth_getBlockByNumber:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"proxy__eth_getBlockByNumber": {}
}
} proxy__eth_getBlockByNumber is read-only, so it stays allowed — but everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
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Returns information about a block by block number. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Etherscan MCP MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Etherscan MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for proxy__eth_getBlockByNumber: allow, deny, rate-limit, or require approval. Point your MCP client at the PolicyLayer proxy URL and the rule is enforced on every call, before it reaches Etherscan MCP. Nothing to install.
proxy__eth_getBlockByNumber is a Read tool with low risk. Read-only tools are generally safe to allow by default.
Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the proxy__eth_getBlockByNumber rule in your PolicyLayer policy. For example, setting max: 10 and window: 60 limits the tool to 10 calls per minute. Rate limits are tracked per agent session and reset automatically.
Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for proxy__eth_getBlockByNumber. The AI agent will receive a policy violation error and cannot call the tool. You can also include a reason field to explain why the tool is blocked.
proxy__eth_getBlockByNumber is provided by the Etherscan MCP server (xiaok/etherscan-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Start from Etherscan MCP, add the rest of your stack, and see everything your agents can call. Then put policy on all of it.
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56 Etherscan MCP tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 43,000+ MCP servers.