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How to trade with Hermes Agent (Nous Research)

Short answer: Hermes Agent by Nous Research connects to remote MCP servers from ~/.hermes/config.yaml. Run hermes mcp add openfinance --url https://api.openfinance.tech/agent/mcp (or paste the YAML block), keep your key in ~/.hermes/.env, and Hermes can trade crypto perps, onchain stocks, forex, memecoins and Polymarket from the CLI or its messaging gateway.

MCP URL: https://api.openfinance.tech/agent/mcp · HTTP streamable · works with any MCP client · one URL, no SDK · no KYC · fund with a debit card.

Setup in 60 seconds: get your OpenFinance key and start trading all markets with the cheapest fees.

How Hermes Agent connects to tools

Hermes reads mcp_servers from ~/.hermes/config.yaml. HTTP servers take url and headers, with ${VAR} substitution from ~/.hermes/.env. It also supports auth: oauth and tool include/exclude filters, and has a hermes mcp add <name> --url helper.

Set up Hermes Agent in under 60 seconds

  1. Add your key to ~/.hermes/.env: OPENFINANCE_API_KEY=open_xxxxx.
  2. Paste the block below into ~/.hermes/config.yaml (or run hermes mcp add openfinance --url https://api.openfinance.tech/agent/mcp and add the header).
  3. Restart Hermes.
  4. Ask “which OpenFinance tools can you use?”
  5. Optional: add tools: exclude: for order tools on read-only bots.
mcp_servers:
  openfinance:
    url: "https://api.openfinance.tech/agent/mcp"
    headers:
      x-api-key: "${OPENFINANCE_API_KEY}"
    timeout: 120

Get your OpenFinance key at openfinance.tech (sidebar → External AI), then fund it with a debit card or crypto.

What Hermes Agent can trade through OpenFinance

Hermes Agent can trade crypto spot and leveraged perps on Hyperliquid, onchain stocks such as TSLA and NVDA, forex, Solana and Base memecoins, and Polymarket prediction markets, all with one OpenFinance key. The full market list is on the hub page.

Prompts to try in Hermes Agent

  • “Every morning at 8, message me on Telegram the top 5 Hyperliquid movers.”
  • “Long BTC 5x with $100 if it reclaims yesterday's high.”
  • “Chart TSLA weekly and buy with 3x margin.”
  • “Buy $50 of NVDA token on Robinhood Chain.”
  • “Ape $20 into the trending Solana memecoin and set a 50% stop.”
  • “Bet $10 on Polymarket election odds when they move more than 5 points in a day.”

FAQ

Is Hermes Agent the same as the Hermes model?
No. Hermes Agent is Nous Research's open-source agent app; it can run many models. MCP support lives in the agent.

Can Hermes trade on a schedule?
Hermes has scheduled tasks and messaging gateways, so it can run a check and place an OpenFinance order on a timer, asking you first if configured.

Where do I keep the key?
In ~/.hermes/.env, referenced as ${OPENFINANCE_API_KEY} in config.yaml.

Can I use OAuth instead?
Hermes supports auth: oauth for HTTP MCP servers.

How do I make Hermes read-only?
Add a tools: exclude: list with OpenFinance's order tools.

Does it run on a VPS?
Yes, Hermes runs headless; OpenFinance is hosted, so only the agent needs a server.

Related

Sources: https://hermes-agent.nousresearch.com/docs/user-guide/features/mcp, https://hermes-agent.nousresearch.com/docs/reference/mcp-config-reference

Trading involves risk, especially with leverage and memecoins. Start small.