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MCP-IPFS

This server empowers language models 🤖 and other MCP clients to manage IPFS spaces.

Last updated: 1/27/2026

README

# 🪐 MCP IPFS Server (storacha.network) 🛰️

![Screenshot](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/alexbakers/mcp-ipfs/refs/heads/main/mcp-ipfs.png?neon-game)

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A Node.js server implementing the [Model Context Protocol (MCP)](https://github.com/ModelContextProtocol/specification) for interacting with the [storacha.network](https://storacha.network/) platform via the `w3` command-line interface (`@web3-storage/w3cli`).

This server empowers language models 🤖 and other MCP clients to manage storacha.network spaces, upload/download data, manage delegations, and perform various other tasks by seamlessly wrapping `w3` commands.

## ✨ Features

- Wraps the `w3` CLI for native integration with storacha.network.
- Provides MCP tools covering a wide range of `w3` functionality:
  - 🔑 **Authentication & Agent:** `w3_login`, `w3_reset`, `w3_account_ls` (for checking authorization)
  - 📦 **Space Management:** `w3_space_ls`, `w3_space_use`, `w3_space_info`, `w3_space_add`, `w3_space_provision` (Note: `w3_space_create` must be run manually due to interactive prompts)
  - 💾 **Data Management:** `w3_up`, `w3_ls`, `w3_rm`
  - 🔗 **Sharing:** `w3_open` (generates w3s.link URL)
  - 🤝 **Delegations & Proofs:** `w3_delegation_create`, `w3_delegation_ls`, `w3_delegation_revoke`, `w3_proof_add`, `w3_proof_ls`
  - 🔐 **Keys & Tokens:** `w3_key_create`, `w3_bridge_generate_tokens`
  - ⚙️ **Advanced Storage (`w3 can ...`):** Blob, CAR, Upload, Index, Access Claim, Filecoin Info management
  - 💳 **Account & Billing:** `w3_plan_get`, `w3_coupon_create`, `w3_usage_report`

## 🛠️ Prerequisites

- **Node.js:** Version 22.0.0 or higher (`node -v`).
- **`w3` CLI:** The server executes `w3` commands directly. Ensure `@web3-storage/w3cli` is installed globally and configured:
  ```bash
  npm install -g @web3-storage/w3cli
  w3 login <your-email@example.com>
  # Follow email verification steps
  ```
- **Environment Variable:** The `w3_login` tool requires the `W3_LOGIN_EMAIL` environment variable to be set to the same email used for `w3 login`.

## 🏗️ Project Structure

The codebase is organized as follows:

```
src/
├── index.ts          # Main server entry point, MCP setup, request routing
├── schemas.ts        # Zod schemas defining input arguments for each tool
├── tool_handlers.ts  # Implementation logic for each MCP tool
├── utils.ts          # Helper functions (e.g., running w3 commands, parsing JSON)
└── utils/
    └── logger.ts     # Basic logger configuration
```

## 🚀 Usage with MCP Clients

This server can be used with any MCP-compatible client. You need to configure your client to connect to this server.

### Example: NPX (Recommended for simple local use)

This assumes `npm` and the prerequisites are met.

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "ipfs": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "mcp-ipfs"],
      "env": {
        "W3_LOGIN_EMAIL": "your-email@example.com"
      }
    }
  }
}
```

### Example: Docker

Build the image first (see Build section) or use the pre-built image `alexbakers/mcp-ipfs`.

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "mcp-ipfs": {
      "command": "docker",
      "args": [
        "run",
        "-i",
        "--rm",
        "-v",
        "/path/to/your/project:/path/to/your/project",
        "-e",
        "W3_LOGIN_EMAIL",
        "alexbakers/mcp-ipfs"
      ],
      "env": {
        "W3_LOGIN_EMAIL": "your-email@example.com"
      }
    }
  }
}
```

#### 📝 Note on Paths:

Several `w3` commands require **absolute filesystem paths** (e.g., `w3_up`, `w3_delegation_create --output`, `w3_proof_add`, `w3_can_blob_add`, `w3_can_store_add`).

- **NPX:** Provide absolute paths from your host machine.
- **Docker:** Provide absolute paths _inside the container_. If interacting with files from your host (e.g., uploading), you **must** mount the relevant host directory into the container using the `-v` flag (e.g., `-v /Users/me/project:/Users/me/project`) and then use the _container path_ (e.g., `/Users/me/project/my_file.txt`) in the tool arguments.

## 📦 Build

Clone the repository and install dependencies:

```bash
git clone https://github.com/alexbakers/mcp-ipfs.git
cd mcp-ipfs
npm install
```

Build the TypeScript code:

```bash
npm run build
```

You can then run the server directly:

```bash
# Ensure W3_LOGIN_EMAIL is set in your environment
export W3_LOGIN_EMAIL="your-email@example.com"
node dist/index.js
```

Or publish it (if you have the rights):

```bash
npm publish
```

### 🐳 Docker Build

Build the Docker image:

```bash
# Build locally (replace with your username/repo and desired tag)
docker build -t alexbakers/mcp-ipfs .
```

## 📜 License

This MCP server is licensed under the MIT License. See the [LICENSE](LICENSE) file for details.

Installation

Add this MCP to your configuration:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "mcp-ipfs": {
      // See GitHub repository for configuration
    }
  }
}

See the GitHub repository for full installation instructions.