Tools for AI Agents
Guide your agent on building NEAR applications
NEAR offers multiple tools and resources to help your AI agents build and use NEAR applications. This page provides an overview of the key tools available and how to use them effectively.
For coding agents with terminal access, start with NEAR CLI for blockchain operations and Agent Skills for task-specific guidance. Use the testnet faucet to fund development accounts. NEAR MCP is an optional integration for clients that need blockchain operations exposed as structured tools.
[card] NEAR CLI
When your agent has terminal access and needs to query accounts, send tokens, or interact with contracts.
[card] llms.txt
When you need to provide your agent with a quick reference to all NEAR docs.
[card] Docs MCP
When you want agents to search docs in real-time for up-to-date details.
[card] Agent Skills
When you need your agent to become an expert in a specific task (e.g. using our API).
[card] NEAR MCP (Optional)
When your client needs blockchain operations exposed through MCP.
[card] Testnet Faucet
When you need testnet NEAR for development accounts.
NEAR CLI
NEAR CLI lets agents query accounts, transfer tokens, deploy contracts, and call contract methods from the terminal.
Install the CLI and check that the near command is available:
npm install -g near-cli-rs@latest
near --version
Supply complete commands, including the network and final action, so the CLI does not need to prompt for missing arguments. For example, check an account's testnet balance:
near tokens your-account.testnet view-near-balance network-config testnet now
Replace your-account.testnet with your account ID. Read-only queries do not require a signing key. To read contract data, specify the contract, method, and JSON arguments:
near contract call-function as-read-only wrap.testnet ft_metadata json-args '{}' network-config testnet now
For transactions, configure a signer available to the agent's runtime and provide the signing option in the command. See the CLI reference for account management, transfers, deployment, and signing options. The near-cli-rs skill provides command syntax and workflows for agents.
llms.txt
What it is: Curated NEAR docs context for coding assistants.
Use it when: You need to provide your agent with a quick reference to all NEAR docs.
Link: https://docs.near.org/llms.txt
[accordion] VS Code Setup
Use
#fetchin your prompt:How can I upgrade a contract state? #fetch https://docs.near.org/llms.txt
[accordion] Cursor Setup
Add docs source once in Cursor Chat:
@→Docs→+ Add new doc- Add:
https://docs.near.org/llms.txt- Select the source while prompting
Docs MCP endpoint
What it is: An endpoint to search NEAR documentation via MCP.
Use it when: You want agents to search docs in real-time for up-to-date details and narrower API lookups.
Link: https://docs.near.org/mcp
Use two complementary layers:
- Static context (
llms.txt) for fast, high-signal docs grounding. - Retrieval (Docs MCP) when the agent needs live lookup across docs.
NEAR Agent Skills
NEAR Agent Skills are reusable capabilities that package repeatable workflows.
Use it when: You need your agent to become an expert in specific tasks (for example, using NEAR APIs).
Link: https://github.com/near/agent-skills
Install the skills using:
npx skills add near/agent-skills
To install a specific skill, pass its name. For example, install the CLI skill with:
npx skills add near/agent-skills --skill near-cli-rs
| Skill | Focus |
|---|---|
| near-ai-cloud | Verifiable private AI inference and attestation |
| near-api-js | JS/TS blockchain interaction, transactions, tokens, and wallet integration |
| near-cli-rs | CLI commands for accounts, tokens, contracts, signing, and network configuration |
| near-contract-audit | Security review of Rust contracts, vulnerability analysis, and findings with remediation |
| near-dapp | dApp project setup, wallet integration, React/Next.js patterns |
| near-intents | Cross-chain swaps via the 1Click API |
| near-kit | TypeScript client for contract calls, transactions, and Sandbox tests |
| near-smart-contracts | Rust smart contract development, security, and state management |
NEAR MCP Server (Optional)
The NEAR MCP Server exposes blockchain operations as structured tools through the Model Context Protocol.
Use it when: Your client supports MCP and needs blockchain tools through that interface, for example when it does not have terminal access. Coding agents with terminal access can use NEAR CLI directly.
Repo: https://github.com/nearai/near-mcp
Remote deployment guide: https://github.com/nearai/near-mcp/blob/main/tee.md
[!WARNING]
The NEAR MCP is designed to run locally or on your trusted infrastructure because it handles private keys. There is no hosted public version.
Testnet Faucet
Use the testnet faucet to send 5 testnet NEAR to your agent's account. Enter the recipient's account ID and click Request Tokens. Only the account ID is required; keep its private key in your agent's local signer.
The faucet requires a browser. If your agent does not have browser access, fund its account through the faucet before continuing with CLI or SDK operations.