List of Bitcoin blockchain APIs

[arnuschky]

Hello,

I am compiling a list of bitcoin APIs. Note that I am not interested in collecting block explorer web interfaces, but APIs for developers.

"Data" APIs

Requirements:

• some sort  of HTTP API (eg, REST)
• query the blockchain: blocks and transactions
• p2p network: unconfirmed transactions, push transactions
• query addresses: transactions, balances, unspents

(so basically everything one needs for building a web wallet)

Hosted:

• blockchain.info's blockchain data API [websockets]
• chain.com [webhooks, websockets]
• Blockstrap (as part of their app platform)
• Blockcypher [webhooks, websockets]
• Toshi by Coinbase [websockets]
• Blocktrail [webhooks, multisig]
• blockr  [websockets]
• smartbit  [websockets]

Self-Hosted:

• Insight API (self hosted open-source, by BitPay) (Hosted versions exist, see below) [websockets]
• Bitcore node (self hosted open-source using BitPay's "bitcore" API) (successor of Insight API) [websockets]

Discontinued:

• Hello, Block! offline as of 1/4/2015

High-level wallet APIs

• blockchain.info's blockchain data API
• Block.io  [webhooks, multisig]
• BitGo  [cosign]
• Gem  [webhooks, cosign]

Additions/suggestions/corrections?

[100bitcoin]

You might find this post useful...

When you check an address balance or a transaction status online, which block explorer do you use ? If you run a service depending on a third party API, which block explorer's API you rely upon ?

Update: I'm listing out the outcome of this thread here...

1. https://blockchain.info/

2. https://blockr.io/

3. https://blockexplorer.com/

4. https://www.biteasy.com/

5. https://chain.so/btc

6. https://helloblock.io/

7. http://bitcoinchain.com/block_explorer

8. https://bkchain.org/btc

9. http://bitinfocharts.com/bitcoin/

10. http://www.blocktrail.com

11. http://explorer.chain.com/

If you know more, please add in this thread: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=636463.0

[arnuschky]

Thanks, that was exactly what I was looking for (but with search disabled...)

[newIndia]

Thanks, that was exactly what I was looking for (but with search disabled...)

Search is now enabled on this forum.

[arnuschky]

Thanks, that was exactly what I was looking for (but with search disabled...)

Actually, after a second glance, not really. The focus of the other thread is block explorers, not the discussions of APIs.
So it seems that most people report their favorite block explorer for occasional manual use,
rather programmatically usable APIs that support a bigger feature set. Most of the sites listed
don't have an API.

[brituspol]

Thanks, that was exactly what I was looking for (but with search disabled...)

Actually, after a second glance, not really. The focus of the other thread is block explorers, not the discussions of APIs.
So it seems that most people report their favorite block explorer for occasional manual use,
rather programmatically usable APIs that support a bigger feature set. Most of the sites listed
don't have an API.

Yes it is. blockchain API still leads.

[arnuschky]

Yes it is. blockchain API still leads.

Sorry, I don't understand what you mean. "still leads" = is still the best? Neither is that really related to my statement that the other thread focuses on user-oriented block explorers, nor is it true...

[shorena]

Yes it is. blockchain API still leads.

Sorry, I don't understand what you mean. "still leads" = is still the best? Neither is that really related to my statement that the other thread focuses on user-oriented block explorers, nor is it true...

blocktrail has an API and I personally never had any problems with it. I should clarify though that I did not use their API for anything serious.

[arnuschky]

Yes it is. blockchain API still leads.

Sorry, I don't understand what you mean. "still leads" = is still the best? Neither is that really related to my statement that the other thread focuses on user-oriented block explorers, nor is it true...

blocktrail has an API and I personally never had any problems with it. I should clarify though that I did not use their API for anything serious.

Nice, thanks, blocktrail is one I didn't know about. I'll update the thread.

[arnuschky]

Does anyone know "Gem"? https://gem.co/

Just found it, but they are in closed beta, so I have no idea what they actually offer 

[arnuschky]

There also used to be https://plugchain.com/ by CEX.io, but it seems to be offline. Does anyone know what happened to it?

[newIndia]

Thanks, that was exactly what I was looking for (but with search disabled...)

Actually, after a second glance, not really. The focus of the other thread is block explorers, not the discussions of APIs.
So it seems that most people report their favorite block explorer for occasional manual use,
rather programmatically usable APIs that support a bigger feature set. Most of the sites listed
don't have an API.

Try to list those especially offering bitcoin send/receive API. AFAIK none still offers it as good as blockchain.info, though it is difficult to offer a send API for those, who do not have a wallet service.

[spin]

• Insight API (self hosted open-source, by BitPay)

One can self-host insight which is nifty, but also not clear that you know but there are at least 3 instances of insight available:
- https://insight.bitpay.com/ e.g. https://insight.bitpay.com/api/status?q=getBestBlockHash
- https://search.bitaccess.ca/ e.g. https://search.bitaccess.ca/api/status?q=getInfo
- https://chain.localbitcoins.com/ e.g. https://chain.localbitcoins.com/api/block/000000000000000006bade384570a3d3209e7358a93630df4add40911a42f5da

Description of the api: https://github.com/bitpay/insight-api

[arnuschky]

Try to list those especially offering bitcoin send/receive API. AFAIK none still offers it as good as blockchain.info, though it is difficult to offer a send API for those, who do not have a wallet service.

I am not particularly interested in a high-level wallet API (as I prefer to build transactions myself),
but I can see that it's very interesting for others so I'll add a section for it.

[arnuschky]

• Insight API (self hosted open-source, by BitPay)

One can self-host insight which is nifty, but also not clear that you know but there are at least 3 instances of insight available:
- https://insight.bitpay.com/
- https://search.bitaccess.ca/
- https://chain.localbitcoins.com/

Description of the api: https://github.com/bitpay/insight-api

Great, thanks, I'll add a note to my main post. If these instances will stay around is of course questionable - except the Bitpay one, maybe.

[spin]

• Insight API (self hosted open-source, by BitPay)

One can self-host insight which is nifty, but also not clear that you know but there are at least 3 instances of insight available:
- https://insight.bitpay.com/
- https://search.bitaccess.ca/
- https://chain.localbitcoins.com/

Description of the api: https://github.com/bitpay/insight-api

Great, thanks, I'll add a note to my main post. If these instances will stay around is of course questionable - except the Bitpay one, maybe.

localbitcoins is also in use at the site of the same name so I presume that's their reference for checking trades there.  So I'd imagine that would also be fairly stable one.
All three sites have been up since I became aware of insight.

[Tjopper]

Thanks, that was exactly what I was looking for (but with search disabled...)

Actually, after a second glance, not really. The focus of the other thread is block explorers, not the discussions of APIs.
So it seems that most people report their favorite block explorer for occasional manual use,
rather programmatically usable APIs that support a bigger feature set. Most of the sites listed
don't have an API.

Try to list those especially offering bitcoin send/receive API. AFAIK none still offers it as good as blockchain.info, though it is difficult to offer a send API for those, who do not have a wallet service.

Can I challenge you to try our API and see if you still think bc.info is the best ?
Im from the https://www.blocktrail.com/ team, if you need any help I can get our team to help you with the integration.

[newIndia]

Thanks, that was exactly what I was looking for (but with search disabled...)

Actually, after a second glance, not really. The focus of the other thread is block explorers, not the discussions of APIs.
So it seems that most people report their favorite block explorer for occasional manual use,
rather programmatically usable APIs that support a bigger feature set. Most of the sites listed
don't have an API.

Try to list those especially offering bitcoin send/receive API. AFAIK none still offers it as good as blockchain.info, though it is difficult to offer a send API for those, who do not have a wallet service.

Can I challenge you to try our API and see if you still think bc.info is the best ?
Im from the https://www.blocktrail.com/ team, if you need any help I can get our team to help you with the integration.

I dint say bc.info is great in terms of normal blockchain API. I said it in terms of 2 specific functions required by merchants... the send & receive API. bc.info is becoming monopoly in providing these 2 specific service, which I think is bad.

[Tjopper]

Thanks, that was exactly what I was looking for (but with search disabled...)

Actually, after a second glance, not really. The focus of the other thread is block explorers, not the discussions of APIs.
So it seems that most people report their favorite block explorer for occasional manual use,
rather programmatically usable APIs that support a bigger feature set. Most of the sites listed
don't have an API.

Try to list those especially offering bitcoin send/receive API. AFAIK none still offers it as good as blockchain.info, though it is difficult to offer a send API for those, who do not have a wallet service.

Can I challenge you to try our API and see if you still think bc.info is the best ?
Im from the https://www.blocktrail.com/ team, if you need any help I can get our team to help you with the integration.

I dint say bc.info is great in terms of normal blockchain API. I said it in terms of 2 specific functions required by merchants... the send & receive API. bc.info is becoming monopoly in providing these 2 specific service, which I think is bad.

Sorry for my miss understanding there,
We do offer send and receive but only for BTC not a conversion to dollars or euro, is this where you are looking for ?

[newIndia]

Thanks, that was exactly what I was looking for (but with search disabled...)

Actually, after a second glance, not really. The focus of the other thread is block explorers, not the discussions of APIs.
So it seems that most people report their favorite block explorer for occasional manual use,
rather programmatically usable APIs that support a bigger feature set. Most of the sites listed
don't have an API.

Try to list those especially offering bitcoin send/receive API. AFAIK none still offers it as good as blockchain.info, though it is difficult to offer a send API for those, who do not have a wallet service.

Can I challenge you to try our API and see if you still think bc.info is the best ?
Im from the https://www.blocktrail.com/ team, if you need any help I can get our team to help you with the integration.

I dint say bc.info is great in terms of normal blockchain API. I said it in terms of 2 specific functions required by merchants... the send & receive API. bc.info is becoming monopoly in providing these 2 specific service, which I think is bad.

Sorry for my miss understanding there,
We do offer send and receive but only for BTC not a conversion to dollars or euro, is this where you are looking for ?

To be specific, I'm looking for alternative to the following 2...

i. https://blockchain.info/api/api_send

ii. https://blockchain.info/api/api_receive

If you are offering similar alternative, can you please point me to the specific links on https://www.blocktrail.com/api/docs ? Conversion to any FIAT is not the requirement. bc.i does not offer it either.