Quickstart

Set up your Sandbox API keys, create a funded account, and send a test transaction

Base API URL: https://sandbox.cdp.coinbase.com

1. Create Sandbox API keys

1. Access CDP Portal Sandbox

   Navigate to Sandbox mode in the CDP Portal

2. Create Sandbox API key

   • Go to Settings
   • Click Create secret API Key
   • Enter an API key nickname
   • Download the API key JSON file and save it securely

2. Install CDP CLI

CDP CLI is a command-line tool that handles JWT authentication automatically — configure your API key once and it takes care of signing every request for you.

npm install -g @coinbase/cdp-cli
cdp --version

Node.js 22 or later is required.

Configure your API key:

cdp env sandbox --key-file ~/Downloads/cdp_api_key.json

Never commit API keys to version control. Store them securely in environment variables or a secrets manager. Do not use real personal data in the Sandbox environment.

3. Create and fund an account through the portal

1. Go to Sandbox Accounts

   In Sandbox mode, navigate to the Accounts tab

2. Create test account

   Name the account (e.g., “My Test Account”)

3. Add test assets

   Add balances in different assets to your account. Currently we support USD, USDC, USDT (e.g., set USD to $1000)

All balances are simulated within the Sandbox environment — no blockchain or testnet connectivity. You cannot fund accounts by sending real or testnet crypto.

4. Verify balance(s)

Run the following to verify your account balance:

cdp accounts balance <accountId>

List all your account IDs:

cdp accounts list

5. Alternative: Test with Postman

Prefer a GUI? See the Postman guide for setup instructions.

Next steps

Now that you’re set up, explore the resource guides to test specific features:

Payment Methods

Test fiat withdrawal flows

Deposit Destinations

Create addresses and simulate incoming deposits

Accounts

Create and manage test accounts

Transfers

Test transfers to crypto addresses and emails

Transitioning to Live

When you’re ready to move from Sandbox to Live:

• Complete integration testing: Ensure all features work correctly in Sandbox
• Create Live API keys: Generate Live credentials in the CDP Portal
• Update configuration: Switch from sandbox.cdp.coinbase.com to api.cdp.coinbase.com
• Start with small transactions: Begin with small test transactions to verify everything works
• Set up monitoring: Configure alerting for failed transactions and API errors