About PathCourse Health (PCH)
PathCourse Health’s MCP server gives AI agents access to lower-cost LLM inference, USDC payments, and agent identity and reputation data. Some tools work without an API key, and an API key can be obtained through the server.
Key features
- 01LLM inference on PCH models
- 02Estimate inference costs
- 03USDC payment and API key provisioning
- 04Look up agent identity and reputation
- 05Check balances and account activity
Use cases
- 01Estimate a request’s cost before inference
- 02Pay with USDC to obtain an API key
- 03Inspect an agent’s identity, score, or history
MCP support
Exposes 14 tools to MCP clients, including inference, cost estimation, payment, and agent lookup. Seven tools are available without an API key; authenticated tools use PCH_API_KEY.
Configuration
Local server config is the same for every client. Copy it into your client’s MCP config file.
npx -y @pathcourse/mcp-serverPCH_API_KEYSecretYour PCH API key (format: pch_prod_b_...). Optional — many tools work without it. Mint one via the pch_provision tool by sending 5 USDC on Base.PCH_GATEWAY_URLOverride the PCH gateway URL. Defaults to https://gateway.pathcoursehealth.com (production mainnet).Local servers need a runtime on your machine (e.g. Node.js 18+). Config file locations differ by client; see your client’s docs.
Tools
14Saved tool list · updated 3w ago
| Parameter | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| model | enum | Yes | Model to usepch-fast | pch-coder | pch-pro | pch-image | pch-audio | pch-audio-premium | pch-documents | pch-talk | claude-haiku | claude-sonnet |
| prompt | string | Yes | The user message/prompt |
| system | string | No | Optional system message |
| max_tokens | number | No | Maximum tokens to generate (default 500) |
Details
From the project READMEPCH MCP Server
Drop-in MCP server for PathCourse Health (PCH) — cheaper LLM inference, USDC-based agent payments, and agent identity / reputation lookup. Works in Claude Desktop, Cursor, Cline, Continue.dev, and Zed.
14 tools. 7 free (no API key needed) and 7 authenticated. Includes a unique flow that lets you buy a PCH API key from inside Claude Desktop using USDC — no signup form, no email verification.
Install
Claude Desktop, Cursor, Cline, Continue.dev, Zed (npm)
Add to your client's MCP config:
{
"mcpServers": {
"pch": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "@pathcourse/mcp-server"],
"env": {
"PCH_API_KEY": "pch_prod_b_..."
}
}
}
}
If you don't have a PCH API key yet, omit the env block. Many tools work without authentication; you can obtain a key via the pch_provision tool.
Per-client install instructions:
Python clients (PyPI)
uvx pch-mcp-server
# or
pip install pch-mcp-server
Tools
Free (no API key)
| Tool | What it does |
|---|---|
pch_models | List all PCH models with rates and tier requirements |
pch_estimate | Estimate cost of an inference request before running it |
pch_status | Gateway health and service status |
pch_provision | Get USDC payment instructions to obtain an API key |
pch_pay | Submit USDC payment proof; returns API key + first inference |
pch_lookup_agent_identity | Lookup an agent's ERC-8004 identity record |
pch_get_path_score | Look up an agent's Path Score (0-1000) |
pch_get_agent_history | 12-month trend of an agent's score components |
pch_verify_certification | Verify a PCH-issued certification |
pch_compare_costs | Compare PCH model cost vs GPT-4o, Claude Sonnet, Claude Haiku |
Authenticated (PCH_API_KEY required)
| Tool | What it does |
|---|---|
pch_inference | Run LLM inference on a PCH model |
pch_balance | Check remaining USDC balance and current tier |
pch_check_agent_reputation | Deeper reputation lookup ($0.001 USDC per query) |
pch_my_account | Self-service balance + identity + recent activity |
Configuration
| Env var | Default | Notes |
|---|---|---|
PCH_API_KEY | (none) | Required for authenticated tools. Format: pch_prod_b_... |
PCH_GATEWAY_URL | https://gateway.pathcoursehealth.com | Override for staging or local dev |
Security
Never commit PCH_API_KEY to a public repo. The wrapper logs a warning at startup if it detects a key that looks like a real production key being passed through env. If you accidentally exposed your key, rotate it via PCH support.
License
MIT
Source
This wrapper is open source: pathcourse-health/pch-mcp-server
The upstream PCH MCP server lives in the (private) pch-platform-gateway repo.
Comments
New to MCP?
From what the protocol is to installing your first server, these answers cover most first questions.
An open protocol that defines how AI applications connect to external tools and data in a uniform way. Clients talk to the model; MCP servers provide tools, resources and prompt templates. They exchange standard messages, so one server can be reused by many clients.