BlockRun

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about BlockRun.

General

What is BlockRun?

BlockRun is an AI API gateway that accepts stablecoin payments via the x402 protocol. Access OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, and other AI models with just a wallet.

Why use BlockRun instead of direct API access?

  • No API keys - Your wallet is your identity
  • No credit cards - Pay with stablecoin
  • No subscriptions - Pay per request
  • Unified API - One interface for all providers
  • Privacy - No account, no tracking

Is BlockRun decentralized?

BlockRun uses the x402 protocol for payments, which settles on-chain. The API gateway itself is centralized for performance and reliability.

Payments

How do I pay?

Fund your wallet with USDC on a supported network (currently Base). The SDK handles payments automatically.

What's the minimum payment?

$0.001 (one-tenth of a cent) per request.

Do I need to pre-fund an account?

No. Keep USDC in your wallet and pay per-request. No deposits or credits.

What if a request fails?

You only pay for successful requests. If the AI call fails, no payment is settled.

Can I get a refund?

Once a payment settles, it's final. This is like any blockchain transaction.

How fast is settlement?

Payments settle in ~2 seconds on Base.

Technical

Which AI models are available?

See Models for the full list including:

  • OpenAI (GPT-4o, o1, etc.)
  • Anthropic (Claude Opus, Sonnet, Haiku)
  • Google (Gemini)
  • And more

Is the API OpenAI-compatible?

Yes! Use the same message format as OpenAI's Chat Completions API.

Can I use BlockRun in production?

Yes. BlockRun is designed for production use with reliable uptime and fast response times.

Is there rate limiting?

Rate limits are generous for normal usage. Contact us for high-volume needs.

Do you support streaming?

Streaming support is coming soon.

Security

Is my private key safe?

Your private key never leaves your device. The SDK only sends signatures, not keys.

Can BlockRun access my wallet?

No. BlockRun can only claim the specific amount you authorize for each request.

What happens if BlockRun is hacked?

Attackers could only process requests and claim authorized payments. They cannot access your wallet or steal funds beyond what you actively authorize.

See Security for more details.

Wallet Setup

Which wallets work?

Any EVM wallet works. You need the private key for signing. Popular options:

  • Create a new wallet with viem or ethers.js
  • Export key from MetaMask (not recommended for main wallet)
  • Use a dedicated hot wallet

How do I get a private key?

import { generatePrivateKey, privateKeyToAccount } from 'viem/accounts';

const privateKey = generatePrivateKey();
const account = privateKeyToAccount(privateKey);
console.log('Address:', account.address);
console.log('Private Key:', privateKey);

How much USDC do I need?

Start with $1-5 for testing. A typical request costs $0.001-0.01.

How do I get USDC on Base?

  1. Buy USDC on any exchange
  2. Withdraw to Base network, or
  3. Bridge using the official Base Bridge

Troubleshooting

"Insufficient balance" error

Your wallet doesn't have enough USDC. Check your balance on Base.

"Unknown model" error

Check the model ID is correct (e.g., openai/gpt-4o, not gpt-4o).

"Timeout" error

Increase timeout in client options. Some models (like o1) take longer.

Request is slow

AI model execution varies. GPT-4o Mini is fastest. o1 and Claude Opus are slower.

Support

How do I get help?

How do I report bugs?

Open an issue on the relevant GitHub repository:

  • API issues: BlockRun main repo
  • Python SDK: blockrun-llm
  • TypeScript SDK: blockrun-llm-ts

Can I request features?

Yes! Open a feature request on GitHub.