rare-protocol-mcp-server

An MCP (Model Context Protocol) server that wraps the RARE Protocol CLI, enabling any MCP-compatible AI client to deploy NFT contracts, mint tokens, and run auctions on SuperRare — directly from natural language.

Built for the Synthesis Hackathon 2026 — sponsored by SuperRare.

Note for Synthesis judges: This server is ready to test. Install rare-cli, configure a Sepolia wallet, add this server to your MCP client, and ask it to deploy a contract and mint an NFT. The full lifecycle works end-to-end.

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What is this?

The RARE Protocol powers $300M+ in NFT sales on SuperRare. This MCP server exposes the entire protocol surface as structured AI tools — so agents can:

• Deploy branded ERC-721 collections on Ethereum
• Mint NFTs with IPFS media upload in one step
• Create, bid, settle, and cancel auctions
• Search tokens, auctions, and collections
• Query on-chain contract and token status

Judges are AI agents. They can use this server to mint an NFT and run an auction during evaluation.

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Prerequisites

Before installing this MCP server, complete these steps in order:

Step 1 — Install Node.js 22+

Download from nodejs.org. Verify:

node --version   # must be v22.x or higher

Step 2 — Install rare-cli globally

npm install -g @rareprotocol/rare-cli

Verify:

rare --help

Step 3 — Configure your wallet

Import your existing private key (recommended: use a dedicated hot wallet, not your main wallet):

rare configure --chain sepolia --private-key 0xYOUR_PRIVATE_KEY --rpc-url https://YOUR_RPC_URL
rare configure --default-chain sepolia

Get a free RPC URL from Alchemy or Infura — public endpoints are rate-limited.

Get free Sepolia testnet ETH from sepoliafaucet.com.

Verify your setup:

rare configure --show
rare wallet address

Step 4 — Install Claude Desktop or Claude Code

• Claude Desktop: Download from claude.ai/download
• Claude Code: npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code

Once all four steps are complete, install this MCP server.

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Installation

git clone https://github.com/Deconstruct2021/rare-protocol-mcp-server
cd rare-protocol-mcp-server
npm install
npm run build

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Configuration

Claude Desktop

Find your config file:

• macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json
• Windows: C:\Users\YOU\AppData\Roaming\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json

Add the rare-protocol entry:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "rare-protocol": {
      "command": "node",
      "args": ["/path/to/rare-protocol-mcp-server/dist/index.js"],
      "env": {
        "RARE_CLI_PATH": "/usr/local/bin/rare"
      }
    }
  }
}

Windows users — use full paths with double backslashes:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "rare-protocol": {
      "command": "node",
      "args": ["C:\\Users\\YOU\\rare-protocol-mcp-server\\dist\\index.js"],
      "env": {
        "RARE_CLI_PATH": "C:\\Users\\YOU\\AppData\\Roaming\\npm\\rare.cmd"
      }
    }
  }
}

Find your RARE_CLI_PATH by running:

where rare        # Windows
which rare        # macOS / Linux

Fully quit and restart Claude Desktop after saving the config.

Claude Code

claude mcp add rare-protocol node /path/to/rare-protocol-mcp-server/dist/index.js

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Switching Between Sepolia and Mainnet

This server defaults to Sepolia testnet — safe for testing with no real funds at risk.

To switch to mainnet permanently

rare configure --default-chain mainnet
rare configure --chain mainnet --rpc-url https://YOUR_MAINNET_RPC_URL

Get a mainnet RPC URL from Alchemy — create a new app and select Ethereum Mainnet.

To use mainnet for a single request

Just say "on mainnet" in your request and the agent will pass --chain mainnet automatically:

"Deploy a collection called 'YOUR COLLECTION NAME' with symbol 'SYMBL' on mainnet"

Important before going mainnet

• Make sure your wallet has real ETH for gas (0.1 ETH is enough for several operations)
• Always do a full test run on Sepolia first
• Double-check all parameters — on-chain transactions are irreversible

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Tools

Tool	Description	Read-only
rare_configure_show	Show wallet and RPC config	✓
rare_wallet_address	Get configured wallet address	✓
rare_deploy_contract	Deploy ERC-721 collection
rare_import_contract	Import existing contract into registry
rare_mint_nft	Mint NFT with local media or IPFS URI
rare_auction_create	Create reserve price auction
rare_auction_bid	Place auction bid
rare_auction_settle	Settle completed auction
rare_auction_cancel	Cancel auction (no bids only)
rare_auction_status	Check auction state	✓
rare_search_tokens	Search NFTs	✓
rare_search_auctions	Search auctions by state	✓
rare_search_collections	Search collections	✓
rare_status	Query contract/token on-chain status	✓

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Example Agent Workflow

Ask any MCP-compatible AI client:

"Deploy a new NFT collection called 'FRAME OF MIND' with symbol 'FOM' on Sepolia, mint a piece called 'Arrival' with the image at /art/arrival.png, then create a 24-hour auction with a 0.1 ETH reserve."

The agent will:

1. Call rare_configure_show — verify wallet and chain
2. Call rare_deploy_contract — get contract address
3. Call rare_mint_nft — get token ID
4. Call rare_auction_create — auction live on-chain

No code. No UI. Pure natural language to on-chain.

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Supported Chains

Chain	Deploy + Auction	Wallet + Search
mainnet	✓	✓
sepolia	✓	✓
base		✓
base-sepolia		✓
arbitrum		✓
optimism		✓
zora		✓

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Contract Addresses

Contract	Mainnet	Sepolia
Factory	0xAe8E375a268Ed6442bEaC66C6254d6De5AeD4aB1	0x3c7526a0975156299ceef369b8ff3c01cc670523
Auction	0x6D7c44773C52D396F43c2D511B81aa168E9a7a42	0xC8Edc7049b233641ad3723D6C60019D1c8771612

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Security

• Private keys are stored in ~/.rare/config.json — never in this server
• All destructive tools (mint, auction, deploy) require explicit agent invocation
• Always test on Sepolia before mainnet
• Never share your ~/.rare/config.json
• Use a dedicated hot wallet — never your main wallet

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Development

npm run dev    # run with tsx (no build step)
npm run build  # compile TypeScript
npm start      # run compiled server

Test with MCP Inspector:

npx @modelcontextprotocol/inspector node dist/index.js

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Project Structure

src/
├── index.ts          # Server entry point
├── constants.ts      # Chain addresses, CLI path
├── cli.ts            # rare-cli execution utility
└── tools/
    ├── wallet.ts     # configure_show, wallet_address
    ├── deploy.ts     # deploy_contract, import_contract
    ├── mint.ts       # mint_nft
    ├── auction.ts    # auction_create/bid/settle/cancel/status
    └── search.ts     # search_tokens/auctions/collections, status

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Built by

DECONSTRUCT LAB — Generative audiovisual artist on SuperRare.

Built for the Synthesis Hackathon 2026.

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License

MIT