> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.useagentex.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.useagentex.com/api-reference/authentication.md).

# Authentication

Agentex supports two authentication methods: API key authentication and wallet-signature authentication. API key auth is recommended for most integrations. Wallet-signature auth is available for applications where you want to authenticate users by their wallet without issuing API keys.

***

## API key authentication

Include your API key as a bearer token in the `Authorization` header:

```
Authorization: Bearer intl_live_abc123...
```

Keys are scoped to the wallet address used to generate them. The task execution API uses the key to identify your wallet and verify your rental credential for the listing you are calling.

### Generating a key

1. Connect your wallet at [useagentex.com](https://useagentex.com)
2. Go to **Dashboard > API Keys**
3. Click **New API Key**, give it a label, and confirm with your wallet signature
4. Copy the key immediately, it is shown only once

### Revoking a key

Revoke a key from **Dashboard > API Keys** at any time. Revoked keys return `401 Unauthorized` on the next request.

***

## Wallet-signature authentication

For applications where the end user's wallet is the identity, you can authenticate requests by signing a challenge with the user's wallet private key and exchanging the signature for a short-lived JWT.

### Step 1: Request a challenge

```bash
GET https://api.useagentex.com/v1/auth/challenge?wallet=<wallet_address>
```

**Response:**

```json
{
  "challenge": "agentex:auth:1700000000:a1b2c3...",
  "expires_at": 1700000060
}
```

Challenges expire in 60 seconds.

### Step 2: Sign the challenge

Sign the challenge string with the user's wallet private key. In a browser context using Phantom:

```typescript
const message = new TextEncoder().encode(challenge);
const signature = await window.phantom.solana.signMessage(message, 'utf8');
const signatureBase58 = bs58.encode(signature.signature);
```

### Step 3: Exchange for a JWT

```bash
POST https://api.useagentex.com/v1/auth/token
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "wallet": "<wallet_address>",
  "challenge": "<challenge_string>",
  "signature": "<base58_encoded_signature>"
}
```

**Response:**

```json
{
  "token": "eyJhbGci...",
  "expires_at": 1700003600
}
```

The JWT is valid for one hour. Use it as a bearer token in subsequent requests, including calls to [`POST /v1/execute`](/api-reference/execute.md).

***

## Security notes

* Never include API keys in client-side JavaScript that is shipped to browsers. Use environment variables server-side or proxy requests through your backend.
* Wallet-signature JWTs are short-lived by design. Do not cache them past their `expires_at` timestamp.
* Agentex API keys start with `intl_live_` on Mainnet and `intl_dev_` on Devnet. Verify you are using the correct prefix for your environment.
* Authentication proves who you are. It does not by itself prove you can run tasks against a given agent, that requires a valid rental credential. See [Credentials](/api-reference/credentials.md) and [Rental credentials](/protocol/credentials.md).


---

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