Ref Tools Ref Tools MCP vs Bitcoin MCP

A side-by-side look at the Ref Tools Ref Tools MCP and Bitcoin MCP MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.

Ref Tools Ref Tools MCP logoRef Tools Ref Tools MCPFinance & Fintech · Local subprocess (stdio)Provide your AI coding tools with token-efficient access to up-to-date technical documentation for…63GoodAuth: not declaredBitcoin MCP logoBitcoin MCPFinance & Fintech · Local subprocess (stdio)Self-hosted Bitcoin Core MCP server — 43 tools, 6 prompts, and 7 resources. Fee intelligence with USD conversion and send-now-or-wait advice, mempool analysis, mining pool rankings, market sentiment, block/transaction inspection, and BTC price. Your local node or hosted via Satoshi API (zero install).55GoodAuth: other

Verdict: choose Ref Tools Ref Tools MCP for finance & fintech work as a local process; choose Bitcoin MCP for finance & fintech as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.

Which MCP server should you choose?

Ref Tools Ref Tools MCP logoChoose Ref Tools Ref Tools MCP when

  • You need dedicated capabilities in the Finance & Fintech domain.
  • You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
  • You have the keys it needs: REF_API_KEY.
  • You want tools like query, url.
Explore Ref Tools Ref Tools MCP

Bitcoin MCP logoChoose Bitcoin MCP when

  • You need dedicated capabilities in the Finance & Fintech domain.
  • You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
  • Its auth model fits you: other.
  • You have the keys it needs: BITCOIN_RPC_HOST, BITCOIN_RPC_PORT, SATOSHI_API_URL, SATOSHI_API_KEY.
Explore Bitcoin MCP

Feature & specification comparison

Rows where the two servers differ are marked.

SpecRef Tools Ref Tools MCP logoRef Tools Ref Tools MCPBitcoin MCP logoBitcoin MCP
CategoryFinance & FintechFinance & Fintech
Quality signal63/100 · Good55/100 · Good
Install commandConfirmedConfirmed
TransportLocal subprocess (stdio)Local subprocess (stdio)
AuthNot declaredother
PricingNot declaredFree
Required env varsREF_API_KEYBITCOIN_RPC_HOSTBITCOIN_RPC_PORTSATOSHI_API_URLSATOSHI_API_KEY
Verified ownerCommunity listingCommunity listing
GitHub stars1,1834
Directory activity 2 views 0 installs 0 upvotes 5 views 0 installs 0 upvotes
Tools2Not listed

Tools & capabilities

Ref Tools Ref Tools MCP tools 2

  • query
  • url

Bitcoin MCP tools

No tool names declared yet. Check the project README from the listing page.

Ready-to-paste client configs

Paste either block (or both) into your client config, e.g. claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json. We only show a config when the install command is confirmed.

Ref Tools Ref Tools MCP

mcpServers (Claude Desktop / Cursor)
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "ref-tools-ref-tools-mcp": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "ref-tools-mcp@latest"
      ],
      "env": {
        "REF_API_KEY": "YOUR_REF_API_KEY_HERE"
      }
    }
  }
}

Bitcoin MCP

mcpServers (Claude Desktop / Cursor)
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "bortlesboat-bitcoin-mcp": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": [
        "--from",
        "bitcoin-mcp>=0.5.2",
        "bitcoin-mcp"
      ],
      "env": {
        "BITCOIN_RPC_HOST": "YOUR_BITCOIN_RPC_HOST_HERE",
        "BITCOIN_RPC_PORT": "YOUR_BITCOIN_RPC_PORT_HERE",
        "SATOSHI_API_URL": "YOUR_SATOSHI_API_URL_HERE",
        "SATOSHI_API_KEY": "YOUR_SATOSHI_API_KEY_HERE"
      }
    }
  }
}

Frequently asked questions

Ref Tools Ref Tools MCP is categorized under Finance & Fintech and uses a local stdio subprocess. Bitcoin MCP belongs to Finance & Fintech and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Ref Tools Ref Tools MCP for finance & fintech work and Bitcoin MCP for finance & fintech.

Copy the mcpServers block from the config section on this page into your client's config (for example claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json), then fully restart the client.

Ref Tools Ref Tools MCP has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. Bitcoin MCP is listed as free. Auth: other. If a server needs environment variables such as API keys, define them under the env key in your client's MCP config.

Yes. MCP clients support multiple servers: add ref-tools-ref-tools-mcp and bortlesboat-bitcoin-mcp as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.

On AllMCPs, Ref Tools Ref Tools MCP has a quality signal of 63/100 (Good) with 2 views, 0 installs and 1,183 GitHub stars. Bitcoin MCP has 55/100 (Good) with 5 views, 0 installs and 4 GitHub stars.