# Argens

> Argens is programmable USDC payment infrastructure for AI agents. Agents use one API key to make direct Stellar payments, route Stellar-to-Base USDC through CCTP V2, and call paid marketplace services under human-defined policies.

## Primary Agent Entry Points

- [Argens Skill](https://argens.xyz/SKILL.md): compact instruction file agents should read before using Argens.
- [Argens Docs](https://argens.xyz/docs): full human-readable API and product guide with examples.
- [Marketplace Services](https://api.argens.xyz/v1/marketplace/services): API catalog of providers and endpoints.
- [Marketplace Provider Skills](https://argens.xyz/SKILL/{provider_id}.md): provider-specific skill files. Replace `{provider_id}` with a provider id from the marketplace catalog, for example `/SKILL/agentmail.md`.

## API

- Production API base URL: `https://api.argens.xyz/v1`
- Local API base URL: `http://localhost:3001/v1`
- Authentication: `Authorization: Bearer <ARGENS_KEY>`
- Amounts: USDC amount fields are strings with up to 7 decimal places.

## Core Capabilities

- `GET /agent/status`: verify API key, balance, and policies.
- `POST /quote`: dry-run a payment without spending.
- `POST /pay`: send USDC to Stellar `G...` addresses or Base `0x...` addresses.
- `GET /transactions/:id`: poll direct, approval, marketplace, and CCTP status.
- `GET /marketplace/services`: discover paid provider endpoints.
- `POST /marketplace/call`: call and pay for an enabled marketplace endpoint.

## Rules For Agents

- Never log or reveal the API key.
- Never retry a `402 POLICY_BLOCKED` response automatically.
- Explain the amount, recipient/service, and purpose before calling `/pay` or `/marketplace/call`.
- For Base recipients, poll the returned transaction until `destination_tx_hash` is set.
- For marketplace calls, use the endpoint id from `endpoints[].id` as `service_id`.