xbird REST API — Twitter/X with x402 Micropayments

Pay-per-request Twitter/X API. Every call is metered via x402 (USDC on Base). Fully stateless — the server stores nothing. No database, no stored credentials.

When to Use

• Backend services or scripts that need Twitter data via HTTP
• Autonomous agents without MCP support
• Any language/framework (not just TypeScript)
• Direct programmatic integrations

Don't use when: Running inside Claude Code / Cursor / Windsurf (use MCP instead), or operating on Virtuals marketplace (use ACP instead).

Setup

# 1. Install xbird and generate a stateless token
npx @checkra1n/xbird login

# 2. Fund the wallet shown in login output with USDC on Base

The login command auto-detects your browser cookies, encrypts them into a self-contained stateless token locally, and saves it. Nothing is sent to the server.

Authentication

Mode 1 — Stateless token (recommended): run xbird login to generate a token, then pass it via X-Encryption-Key header. The token is self-contained — the server decrypts per-request and stores nothing.

Mode 2 — Per-request headers (simplest): pass X-Twitter-Auth-Token + X-Twitter-CT0 on every request.

Complete Example

import { wrapFetchWithPayment, x402Client } from "@x402/fetch";
import { registerExactEvmScheme } from "@x402/evm/exact/client";
import { privateKeyToAccount } from "viem/accounts";

const account = privateKeyToAccount(process.env.PRIVATE_KEY as `0x${string}`);
const client = new x402Client();
registerExactEvmScheme(client, { signer: account });
const paymentFetch = wrapFetchWithPayment(fetch, client);

const SERVER = "https://xbirdapi.up.railway.app";

// Search with stateless token
const res = await paymentFetch(
  `${SERVER}/api/search?q=${encodeURIComponent("AI agents")}&count=10`,
  {
    headers: {
      "X-Encryption-Key": process.env.XBIRD_TOKEN!,  // from xbird login
    },
  },
);
const { data, cursor } = await res.json();

Quick Reference

Server:   https://xbirdapi.up.railway.app
Response: { data: {...} } or { data: [...], cursor: "..." }
Error:    { error: "message" }
Undo:     POST to engage, DELETE to undo (like, retweet, bookmark)
Bulk:     Resolve handle → numeric ID via GET /api/users/:handle first
Pricing:  Read $0.001 | Search $0.005 | Bulk/Write $0.01 | Media $0.05

Full endpoint list: see endpoints.md. Payment flow details: see x402-flow.md.

Common Mistakes

| Mistake | Fix | |---------|-----| | Payment error "invalid_payload" | Wallet address == server payTo. EIP-3009 rejects self-payment. Use a different wallet. | | Using handle for bulk endpoints | /api/users/:id/tweets needs numeric ID. Call GET /api/users/:handle first. | | Empty USDC balance | Fund wallet with USDC on Base mainnet (eip155:8453). $0.10 = hundreds of calls. | | Sending only one credential header | Both X-Twitter-Auth-Token AND X-Twitter-CT0 required, or use X-Encryption-Key with stateless token. | | Invalid token format | Token must be xbird_sk_<key>.<ciphertext>.<iv>. Re-run npx @checkra1n/xbird login to generate. | | Rate limit 429 | Twitter rate limit. Wait 1-2 minutes, retry. |