> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.moralis.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Bitcoin API Quickstart

> Make your first Bitcoin API request — fetch balances and history using either a Bitcoin address or an xpub via the Moralis Universal API.

## Introduction

This quickstart walks you through your first request to the **Bitcoin Data API**. Under the hood it's the Moralis Universal API — every endpoint is the same one EVM and Solana developers already use, just with `bitcoin` as the chain.

You'll fetch BTC balances and a page of wallet history, then call the xpub utility. The interesting part: the wallet endpoints accept **either an address or an xpub** as input, so you can drop the API into whichever shape your app already has.

## Prerequisites

* Node.js v18+ installed
* A Moralis API key ([get one free](https://admin.moralis.io))

## Step 1: Set up your project

```bash theme={null}
mkdir bitcoin-quickstart && cd bitcoin-quickstart
npm init -y
```

## Step 2: Fetch a BTC balance — by address

Create a file called `balance-by-address.js`:

```javascript theme={null}
const API_KEY = 'YOUR_API_KEY';
const ADDRESS = 'bc1qar0srrr7xfkvy5l643lydnw9re59gtzzwf5mdq';

async function getBalance() {
  const response = await fetch(
    `https://api.moralis.com/v1/wallets/${ADDRESS}/tokens?chains=bitcoin`,
    { headers: { 'X-API-Key': API_KEY } }
  );

  const data = await response.json();
  console.log(JSON.stringify(data, null, 2));
}

getBalance();
```

Run it:

```bash theme={null}
node balance-by-address.js
```

You should see the native BTC balance for the address.

## Step 3: Fetch the same kind of balance — by xpub

The same endpoint accepts an xpub. Create `balance-by-xpub.js`:

```javascript theme={null}
const API_KEY = 'YOUR_API_KEY';
const XPUB =
  'xpub6CUGRUonZSQ4TWtTMmzXdrXDtypWKiKrhko4egpiMZbpiaQL2jkwSB1icqYh2cfDfVxdx4df189oLKnC5fSwqPfgyP3hooxujYzAu3fDVmz';

async function getBalance() {
  const response = await fetch(
    `https://api.moralis.com/v1/wallets/${XPUB}/tokens?chains=bitcoin`,
    { headers: { 'X-API-Key': API_KEY } }
  );

  const data = await response.json();
  console.log(JSON.stringify(data, null, 2));
}

getBalance();
```

The API derives every address from the xpub and aggregates balances for you. No client-side derivation, no extra libraries.

## Step 4: Pull wallet transaction history

```javascript theme={null}
const API_KEY = 'YOUR_API_KEY';
const ADDRESS_OR_XPUB = 'bc1qar0srrr7xfkvy5l643lydnw9re59gtzzwf5mdq';

async function getHistory() {
  const response = await fetch(
    `https://api.moralis.com/v1/wallets/${ADDRESS_OR_XPUB}/history?chains=bitcoin&limit=10`,
    { headers: { 'X-API-Key': API_KEY } }
  );

  const data = await response.json();
  console.log(JSON.stringify(data, null, 2));
}

getHistory();
```

Use the returned `cursor` to paginate.

## Step 5: Get the current BTC price (with sparkline)

```javascript theme={null}
const API_KEY = 'YOUR_API_KEY';

async function getPrice() {
  const [priceRes, sparkRes] = await Promise.all([
    fetch('https://api.moralis.com/v1/chains/bitcoin/tokens/native/price', {
      headers: { 'X-API-Key': API_KEY },
    }),
    fetch(
      'https://api.moralis.com/v1/chains/bitcoin/tokens/native/price/sparkline',
      { headers: { 'X-API-Key': API_KEY } }
    ),
  ]);

  console.log('price:', await priceRes.json());
  console.log('sparkline:', await sparkRes.json());
}

getPrice();
```

## Step 6: Enumerate the addresses derived from an xpub

If your UI needs to **display every address** controlled by an xpub (not just query against it), call the utility endpoint:

```javascript theme={null}
const API_KEY = 'YOUR_API_KEY';
const XPUB =
  'xpub6CUGRUonZSQ4TWtTMmzXdrXDtypWKiKrhko4egpiMZbpiaQL2jkwSB1icqYh2cfDfVxdx4df189oLKnC5fSwqPfgyP3hooxujYzAu3fDVmz';

async function getAddresses() {
  const response = await fetch(
    `https://api.moralis.com/v1/chains/bitcoin/wallets/${XPUB}/addresses`,
    { headers: { 'X-API-Key': API_KEY } }
  );

  const data = await response.json();
  console.log(JSON.stringify(data, null, 2));
}

getAddresses();
```

You'll get every derived address with its transfer count.

## What's next

* [Bitcoin Wallet API](/data-api/bitcoin/wallet/overview) — balances and history
* [Bitcoin Price API](/data-api/bitcoin/price/overview) — current price, history, sparklines
* [Bitcoin Blockchain API](/data-api/bitcoin/blockchain/overview) — raw blocks and transactions
* [Xpub Utility](/data-api/bitcoin/utility/addresses-from-xpub) — enumerate derived addresses

***

## Bitcoin API Overview

<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/us4CIqGre0A" title="Bitcoin API Overview" width="100%" height="400" frameBorder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowFullScreen />