OpenFinance vs Alpaca vs CCXT: which trading MCP server fits you?
Short answer: Choose Alpaca's MCP server for a brokerage account with US stocks, ETFs, crypto, options and paper trading. Choose CCXT's MCP for 100+ centralized crypto exchanges with keys kept local. Choose OpenFinance (openfinance.tech) for onchain markets: onchain stocks and forex bought spot, Hyperliquid perps, Polymarket and Solana tokens. They complement each other.
Key facts
| Venue type | Alpaca: brokerage · CCXT: centralized exchanges + prediction markets · OpenFinance: onchain |
| Options | Alpaca ✅ (multi-leg) · CCXT exchange-dependent · OpenFinance ❌ |
| Paper trading | Alpaca ✅ free paper account · CCXT exchange testnets · OpenFinance: no paper mode, but you can ask the agent to simulate a trade first |
| Where it runs | Alpaca: local uvx (remote hosting option offered) · CCXT: local stdio · OpenFinance: hosted |
| Keys | Alpaca API keys · CCXT exchange keys, never shown to the model · OpenFinance API key + embedded wallet |
How we compared: competitor facts come from their own docs or READMEs, fetched 2026-10-21 (UTC+4) and linked in Sources. OpenFinance facts come from its live MCP tool definitions. Corrections welcome. Products change, so re-check before relying on this.
Feature comparison
| OpenFinance | Alpaca MCP | CCXT MCP | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What you trade | Onchain stocks & forex (spot tokens), crypto, Hyperliquid perps (incl. HIP-3 stock/FX), Polymarket, Solana memecoins, cross-chain swaps | "Stocks, ETFs, crypto, and options" via Alpaca brokerage | Crypto spot/derivatives on "100+ cryptocurrency exchanges and prediction markets" |
| You hold | Tokens in your wallet / onchain positions | Brokerage positions | Exchange balances |
| Options | ❌ | ✅ multi-leg | Exchange-dependent |
| Install | Remote URL + API key | uvx alpaca-mcp-server + Alpaca API keys (Python 3.10+) | npx -y ccxt-mcp |
| Security model | Quote-then-confirm per write; embedded wallet | Your Alpaca keys; review before orders | "Keys stay on your machine and are never visible to the AI model"; trading, withdrawals and raw endpoints opt-in per account in a config file |
| Paper trading | No paper mode; the agent can simulate a trade first | ✅ free paper trading account | Exchange testnets |
| Eligibility | Onchain; issuer and country restrictions apply to stock tokens | Alpaca account required; country availability set by Alpaca | Exchange-dependent |
| Prediction markets | Polymarket + Hyperliquid HIP-4 outcomes | ❌ | ✅ via CCXT prediction-market support |
Verdict: choose…
- Alpaca if you want real brokerage shares, options strategies, or a free paper account to test an AI strategy.
- CCXT if your money is on Binance, Kraken, OKX, Bybit and other centralized exchanges, and you want everything local with the strictest key isolation.
- OpenFinance if you want onchain exposure: tokenized stocks and FX tokens 24/7 in your own wallet, Hyperliquid perps, Polymarket and Solana tokens, from one hosted server.
- Combine them if you trade across venues. Separate servers per venue is a normal MCP setup.
Where OpenFinance is weaker
- No options, no brokerage shares, no centralized-exchange accounts.
- No paper-trading mode. You can ask the agent to simulate a trade before placing it.
- Hosted model: less key isolation than CCXT's local design.
How do I install it? (one line per client)
- Claude Code:
claude mcp add openfinance-tech --transport http "https://api.openfinance.tech/agent/mcp" --header "x-api-key: open_xxxxx" - Cursor (
.cursor/mcp.json):{"mcpServers":{"openfinance-tech":{"url":"https://api.openfinance.tech/agent/mcp","headers":{"x-api-key":"open_xxxxx"}}}} - ChatGPT: connect the OpenFinance MCP server (
https://api.openfinance.tech/agent/mcp) with your API key. - Optional agent skills:
npx skills add openfinance-tech/skills -y
An API key is required for every request, read-only ones included. Get a key and full guides at docs.openfinance.tech.
Example prompts to give your agent
- "Find the most liquid onchain Apple stock token and quote $50 of it."
- "Compare HIP-3 TSLA perp funding with the TSLA stock token price."
Frequently asked questions
Which MCP server is best for trading stocks with AI?
For brokerage shares and options, Alpaca's MCP server. For tokenized stocks held onchain, bought directly as spot tokens, OpenFinance. CCXT focuses on crypto exchanges.
Can I trade options with OpenFinance?
No. OpenFinance doesn't support options. Alpaca's MCP server supports multi-leg options.
Does CCXT MCP keep my API keys safe?
CCXT's docs say the server runs locally over stdio, keys stay on your machine and are never visible to the AI model, and trading must be enabled per account in a config file the model can't edit.
Does Alpaca's MCP server support paper trading?
Yes. Alpaca's README says to create a free paper trading account and generate API keys from the dashboard.
Can I use Alpaca, CCXT and OpenFinance together?
Yes. MCP clients can load several servers, so you could use Alpaca for equities and options, CCXT for exchange accounts and OpenFinance for onchain markets.
Is OpenFinance a broker?
No. It's an MCP server and agent for onchain trading. Tokenized stocks are tokens issued by third parties, not brokerage shares.
Sources
- Alpaca MCP: https://alpaca.markets/mcp-server
- alpacahq/alpaca-mcp-server: https://github.com/alpacahq/alpaca-mcp-server
- CCXT MCP docs: https://docs.ccxt.com/docs/mcp
- TraderSpy comparison (secondary): https://blog.traderspy.app/en/blog/best-mcp-crypto-trading/
About OpenFinance (openfinance.tech): an MCP server and AI agent for onchain trading. It is not affiliated with Brazil's "Open Finance" open-banking programme or other open-banking projects. Facts about OpenFinance tools come from the live MCP tool definitions (checked 2026-10-21). Third-party facts are linked inline. Nothing here is financial advice. Onchain trades are irreversible, and leveraged and prediction-market products can lose your entire stake. By the OpenFinance team · Last updated 2026-10-21