How do I get my AntChain Access Key and Secret Key?

Log in to the AntChain BaaS console, navigate to the API Management or Developer Center section, and create a new API credential pair. You'll receive an Access Key (public identifier) and a Secret Key (used for HMAC-SHA256 signature generation). The Secret Key is shown only once — save it immediately. These credentials authenticate all your API requests.

What's the difference between querying a block and querying a transaction?

A block query returns information about the container itself — block height, hash, timestamp, transaction count, and the previous block hash. A transaction query returns details about a specific operation within a block — sender/receiver addresses, gas used, execution status, return values, and whether the transaction succeeded or reverted. Use blocks to explore the chain structure, and transactions to verify individual operations.

Can I deploy smart contracts through this MCP server?

Yes! Use the `deploy_contract` tool to upload and deploy compiled smart contract bytecode to your AntChain network. You'll need the contract bytecode (in hex format), a name for the contract, and optionally the ABI for future interactions. After deployment, you can invoke contract methods using the `invoke_contract` tool. Make sure your account has sufficient permissions and balance for deployment.

AntChain MCP Server for VS Code Copilot 10 tools — connect in under 2 minutes

Name: AntChain
Availability: InStock
Author: Vinkius

code.visualstudio.com/docs/copilot/chat/mcp-servers

Built by Vinkius GDPR 10 Tools IDE

GitHub Copilot in VS Code is the most widely adopted AI coding assistant, embedded directly into the world's most popular code editor. With MCP support in Agent mode, Copilot can access external data and APIs to generate context-aware code grounded in real-time information.

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The modern way to manage MCP Servers — no config files, no terminal commands. Install AntChain and 2,500+ MCP Servers from a single visual interface.

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Classic Setup·json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "antchain": {
      "url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp"
    }
  }
}

Fully ManagedVinkius Servers

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IAMAccess control

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Stream every event to Splunk, Datadog, or your own webhook in real-time

* Every MCP server runs on Vinkius-managed infrastructure inside AWS - a purpose-built runtime with per-request V8 isolates, Ed25519 signed audit chains, and sub-40ms cold starts optimized for native MCP execution. See our infrastructure

About AntChain MCP Server

Connect your AntChain (蚂蚁链) BaaS platform account to any AI agent and gain complete visibility and control over your enterprise blockchain operations through natural conversation. AntChain is Alibaba Group's blockchain-as-a-service platform, designed for consortium chains, enterprise smart contracts, and secure decentralized applications.

GitHub Copilot Agent mode brings AntChain data directly into your VS Code workflow. With a project-scoped config, the entire team shares access to 10 tools. Copilot queries live data, generates typed code, and writes tests from actual API responses, all without leaving the editor.

What you can do

Block Exploration — Query detailed information about any block by height or hash, including transaction counts and timestamps
Transaction Tracking — Inspect individual transactions by hash or ID, verifying status, gas consumption, and execution results
Smart Contract Management — Deploy new contracts, invoke contract methods, and query contract metadata and ABIs
Account Inspection — Check account balances, nonce values, and metadata for any wallet address on the chain
Network Monitoring — View network topology, node status, consensus state, and chain health metrics
Chain Discovery — List all blockchain networks available to your organization with their configurations
Recent Activity — Monitor the latest transactions and network activity in real-time

The AntChain MCP Server exposes 10 tools through the Vinkius. Connect it to VS Code Copilot in under two minutes — no API keys to rotate, no infrastructure to provision, no vendor lock-in. Your configuration, your data, your control.

How to Connect AntChain to VS Code Copilot via MCP

Follow these steps to integrate the AntChain MCP Server with VS Code Copilot.

Create MCP config

Create a .vscode/mcp.json file in your project root

Add the server config

Paste the JSON configuration above

Enable Agent mode

Open GitHub Copilot Chat and switch to Agent mode using the dropdown

Start using AntChain

Ask Copilot: "Using AntChain, help me...". 10 tools available

Why Use VS Code Copilot with the AntChain MCP Server

GitHub Copilot for Visual Studio Code provides unique advantages when paired with AntChain through the Model Context Protocol.

VS Code is used by over 70% of developers. adding MCP tools to Copilot means your team can leverage external data without leaving their primary editor

Project-scoped MCP configs (`.vscode/mcp.json`) let you commit server configurations to your repository, ensuring the entire team shares the same tool access

Copilot's Agent mode integrates MCP tools seamlessly with file editing, terminal commands, and workspace search in a single agentic loop

GitHub's enterprise compliance and audit features extend to MCP tool usage, providing visibility into how AI interacts with external services

AntChain + VS Code Copilot Use Cases

Practical scenarios where VS Code Copilot combined with the AntChain MCP Server delivers measurable value.

Live API integration: Copilot can query an MCP server, inspect the response schema, and generate typed API client code in the same step

DevSecOps workflows: security teams can give developers access to domain intelligence tools directly in their editor for real-time vulnerability assessment during code review

Data pipeline development: Copilot fetches sample data via MCP and generates transformation scripts, validators, and test fixtures from actual API responses

Documentation generation: Copilot queries available tools and auto-generates README sections, API reference docs, and usage examples

AntChain MCP Tools for VS Code Copilot (10)

These 10 tools become available when you connect AntChain to VS Code Copilot via MCP:

deploy_contract

Requires the contract bytecode (compiled bytecode in hex format) and optionally the ABI (Application Binary Interface) for interaction. Returns the deployed contract address and deployment transaction details. The contract will be available under the specified name. Deploy a smart contract on AntChain

get_chain_list

Returns chain IDs, names, creation dates, status, and basic configuration. Use this to discover which blockchains you have access to before performing operations. List all available blockchain networks in your AntChain account

invoke_contract

Provide the contract name, method name, and any required arguments. Returns the execution result including return values, gas consumption, and transaction status. Use this to interact with deployed contracts. Invoke a smart contract method on AntChain

query_account

Use this to inspect account state and activity. Query account information on AntChain

query_account_balance

Returns the available balance and any locked/pending amounts. Useful for checking if an account has sufficient funds for transactions or contract interactions. Query account balance on AntChain

query_block

Returns block metadata including timestamp, transaction count, hash, and previous block reference. Use either blockHeight or blockHash to identify the block. Query block details from an AntChain blockchain

query_contract

Useful for inspecting contract configuration before invocation. Query smart contract information on AntChain

query_latest_transactions

Useful for monitoring network activity, auditing recent transactions, or getting a snapshot of current blockchain operations. Returns a list of recent transactions with their status and metadata. Query the latest transactions on an AntChain blockchain

query_network_info

Useful for monitoring blockchain infrastructure health. Query blockchain network information on AntChain

query_transaction

Returns transaction status, sender, receiver, gas used, block inclusion, and execution result. Useful for verifying transaction finality and inspecting transaction details. Query a transaction on AntChain

Example Prompts for AntChain in VS Code Copilot

Ready-to-use prompts you can give your VS Code Copilot agent to start working with AntChain immediately.

"Show me the latest 5 transactions on my default AntChain network."

"What's the balance of account 0x742d35Cc6634C0532925a3b844Bc9e7595e0bFa8?"

"Invoke the 'transfer' method on contract 'TokenContract' with args {"to": "0x123...", "amount": 100}."

Troubleshooting AntChain MCP Server with VS Code Copilot

Common issues when connecting AntChain to VS Code Copilot through the Vinkius, and how to resolve them.

MCP tools not available

Ensure you are in Agent mode in Copilot Chat. MCP tools only appear in Agent mode.

AntChain + VS Code Copilot FAQ

Common questions about integrating AntChain MCP Server with VS Code Copilot.

Which VS Code version supports MCP?

MCP support requires VS Code 1.99 or later with the GitHub Copilot extension. Ensure both are updated to the latest version. Older versions of Copilot may not expose the Agent mode toggle.

How do I switch to Agent mode?

Open the Copilot Chat panel and look for two mode options: "Ask" and "Agent". Click "Agent" to enable autonomous tool calling. In Ask mode, Copilot provides conversational answers but cannot invoke MCP tools.

Can I restrict which MCP tools Copilot can access?

Yes. VS Code shows a tool consent dialog before any MCP tool is invoked for the first time. You can also configure tool access policies at the organization level through GitHub Copilot settings.

Does MCP work in VS Code Remote or Codespaces?

Yes. MCP servers configured via .vscode/mcp.json work in Remote SSH, WSL, and GitHub Codespaces environments. The MCP connection is established from the remote host, so ensure the server URL is accessible from that environment.