Does Alpaca have an API?

Alpaca offers a public API that allows access to various information, such as account opening, crypto trading, funding, trading, portfolio rebalancing, and more (Alpaca Documentation). However, an alternative to using Alpaca's public API is Mesh, which has built direct integration with Alpaca and 300+ other digital asset exchanges and wallets (Mesh Documentation).

How to access Alpaca’s public API

Alpaca is an API-first developer platform that connects the world to financial services, offering various APIs such as the Crypto API, Trading API, Broker API, and Market Data API. You can find more information about Alpaca and its APIs in their documentation.

Users can access Alpaca's public APIs by referring to the respective API documentation and following the provided guidelines. However, an alternative to using Alpaca's public API is to use Mesh, as outlined in their Quickstart Guide with Link SDKs. Mesh APIs allow client applications to connect users to their accounts across brokerages, centralized exchanges, and self-custody wallets, handling credential validation, multi-factor authentication, and prevents lost funds due to misconfigured transfers when connecting to each account.

What does Alpaca’s API documentation look like?

Alpaca API documentation provides essential information and resources for developers looking to connect to Alpaca's financial services. The platform offers various APIs, including Crypto API for trading of digital assets, Trading API for automating stock trading strategies, Broker API for building apps or brokerage services, and Market Data API for creating data-driven applications with market data for stocks and crypto. To explore the full range of features and resources, visit the Get Started | Alpaca Docs page.

How to use Mesh to integrate with alpaca

Mesh's integration process is designed to be simple and straightforward, making it easy for developers to connect with Alpaca and other exchanges. By following the Quickstart Guide with Link SDKs, you can quickly set up Mesh to work with Alpaca. Here are the steps to integrate Mesh with Alpaca:

1. Sign up for a Mesh account on the Mesh Signup Page.
2. Generate API keys and add allowed callback URLs for your environments.
3. Call /api/v1/cataloglink to create a link URL for the user to connect their Alpaca account.
4. Pass the iFrameURL to the appropriate Link SDK (Web, iOS, Android, or React Native).
5. Mesh handles the authentication flow and MFAs, and the user receives an auth_token upon successful authentication.

By following these steps, you can easily integrate Mesh with Alpaca and enable seamless digital asset transfers for your users.

Why use Mesh instead of directly accessing the Alpaca API?

Mesh offers a seamless and user-friendly experience for developers looking to integrate digital asset transfers and account aggregation into their products. Here are some reasons why using Mesh's integrations is a better option than accessing Alpaca's own API directly:

• Ease of use: Mesh provides a human-friendly and embedded experience for customers, making it easier to use compared to direct API access.
• Multiple exchange integrations: Mesh connects to 300+ major brokerages, centralized exchanges, and self-custody wallets through secure APIs, offering a wider range of integrations than Alpaca alone. See Account Aggregation for more details.
• Cost: Mesh offers two pricing models, "Pay-as-you-go" and "Enterprise subscription," with volume discounts available based on contract duration and/or minimum monthly commitment. See the Mesh Pricing page for more details.
• Comprehensive account management: Mesh offers real-time access to aggregated assets and balances, detailed transactional history, and an extensive integration catalog. Learn more here.
• Supported assets: Mesh supports 20+ tokens and 10+ networks for digital asset deposits and payments, providing a wider range of options than Alpaca alone.

How much does Mesh’s integration with Alpaca cost?

Mesh offers two pricing models: Pay-as-you-go and Enterprise subscription. The Pay-as-you-go plan charges $0.50 per transfer or trade request, with free $500 credits and no upfront payment. Enterprise clients receive customized volume pricing on API calls. Specific costs and inclusions for each plan can be found on the Mesh Pricing page.

Signing up for Mesh is simple, as described on the Mesh Signup Page. To start using Mesh APIs, follow the Mesh Documentation for a comprehensive guide on authentication and account connection using Link SDKs.

Popular use cases for Mesh’s integration with Alpaca

Mesh's integration with Alpaca opens up a world of possibilities for developers to create innovative solutions for digital asset management. Here are some example use cases:

• Build a portfolio management app that allows users to track their digital assets across multiple exchanges and wallets, leveraging Mesh's Account Aggregation feature.
• Create a payment gateway that enables customers to pay with cryptocurrencies from their existing accounts on platforms like Coinbase, Binance, and Metamask, using Mesh's Pay with Crypto service.
• Develop a crypto deposit platform that simplifies the process of funding wallets with external assets, taking advantage of Mesh's Embedded Crypto Deposits functionality.

Explore the Mesh Documentation to learn more about integrating Mesh's services into your applications.

Alpaca API errors and troubleshooting

When using the Alpaca API, developers may encounter various errors that can disrupt their applications. Understanding these errors and knowing how to troubleshoot them is essential for a smooth development process.

1. Error Code 400: Bad Request - This error indicates that the request sent to the API is invalid or malformed. To troubleshoot, double-check the request's syntax and parameters according to the Alpaca API documentation.
2. Error Code 401: Unauthorized - This error occurs when the API key is missing or incorrect. Ensure that you are using the correct API key and that it is included in the request header.
3. Error Code 429: Too Many Requests - This error signifies that the rate limit for the API has been exceeded. To resolve this issue, reduce the frequency of requests or consider upgrading your API plan for higher rate limits.

Other integrations available from Mesh

In addition to an integration with Alpaca, Mesh also supports a wide range of other exchanges, wallets, and trading platforms. Some of these integrations include:

• Binance (US) - Binance.US is the crypto trading platform for US residents where you can buy, sell, and trade cryptocurrencies and alt coins with some of the lowest fees in the U.S.
• Metamask - MetaMask is the leading self-custodial wallet. The safe and simple way to access blockchain applications and web3. Trusted by millions of users worldwide.
• Robinhood - Robinhood is a commission-free trading platform that allows users to invest in stocks, options, and cryptocurrencies.
• Coinbase - Coinbase is a secure platform that makes it easy to buy, sell, and store cryptocurrency like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and more.
• Kraken - Kraken is a top-tier cryptocurrency exchange that offers a wide range of digital assets and advanced trading features.

If you want to use Mesh, you can sign up for Mesh today.