CoinDesk provides a simple API to make its Bitcoin Price Index (BPI) data programmatically available to others. You are free to use this API to include our data in any application or website as you see fit, as long as each page or app that uses it includes the text “Powered by CoinDesk”, linking to our price page. CoinDesk data is made available through a number of HTTP resources, and data is returned in JSON format. Please do not abuse our service.
Launched in September 2013, the CoinDesk Bitcoin Price Index (XBP) represents an average of bitcoin prices across leading global exchanges that meet criteria specified by the XBP. It is intended to serve as a standard retail price reference for industry participants and accounting professionals.
Going forward, the Bitcoin Price Index displayed on our site will use an updated API (not currently public). If you still wish to obtain XBP data for use in your service or product, you are free to use our public API. Please note that this is a deprecated version and will be available until further notice. Email index@coindesk.com if you have any queries.
If you have a press query about the XBP, please see our Press page or contact press@coindesk.com.
The criteria for inclusion in the XBP are:
Currently, these bitcoin exchanges meet the criteria and are therefore included in the US dollar XBP calculation:
The following exchanges are included in the Chinese yuan XBP calculation:
The main features and criteria are as follows:
The decision to apply a simple average, as opposed to a volume-weighted average, for the CoinDesk XBP was made because the bitcoin market currently lacks sufficient depth and regional liquidity.
Since trading volume now favors particular regions, a volume-weighted approach would not act as a proper global indicator, because each international bitcoin exchange is not equally available to all national trading participants.
A simple average does not favor a regional exchange with high volume and ensures that the XBP is meaningful for the largest number of market participants. Also, a simple average approach minimizes the impact of volume irregularities and accidentally excluding an exchange.
As overall liquidity improves and the number of global exchange choices increases, the impact of regional variances should diminish and a volume-weighted approach may become more appropriate.
Bitcoin price index data and the API has been used by many projects, tools, and journalists.
Some uses of the XBP are shown below:
We’d love to hear how you’re using the CoinDesk XBP!
On the CoinDesk website, we publish the BPI in USD, EUR, and GBP, calculated every minute, based on criteria as discussed on the CoinDesk BPI page. This same data can be retrieved using the endpoint: https://api.coindesk.com/v1/bpi/currentprice.json
Sample JSON Response:
{"time":{"updated":"Sep 18, 2013 17:27:00 UTC","updatedISO":"2013-09-18T17:27:00+00:00"},"disclaimer":"This data was produced from the CoinDesk Bitcoin Price Index. Non-USD currency data converted using hourly conversion rate from openexchangerates.org","bpi":{"USD":{"code":"USD","symbol":"$","rate":"126.5235","description":"United States Dollar","rate_float":126.5235},"GBP":{"code":"GBP","symbol":"£","rate":"79.2495","description":"British Pound Sterling","rate_float":79.2495},"EUR":{"code":"EUR","symbol":"€","rate":"94.7398","description":"Euro","rate_float":94.7398}}}
We also offer the BPI converted into in any of our supported currencies. This data can be accessed using the endpoint: https://api.coindesk.com/v1/bpi/currentprice/<CODE>.json
Sample Request https://api.coindesk.com/v1/bpi/currentprice/CNY.json Sample JSON Response:
{"time":{"updated":"Sep 18, 2013 17:27:00 UTC","updatedISO":"2013-09-18T17:27:00+00:00"},"disclaimer":"This data was produced from the CoinDesk Bitcoin Price Index. Non-USD currency data converted using hourly conversion rate from openexchangerates.org","bpi":{"USD":{"code":"USD","rate":"126.5235","description":"United States Dollar","rate_float":126.5235},"CNY":{"code":"CNY","rate":"775.0665","description":"Chinese Yuan","rate_float":"775.0665"}}}
We offer historical data from our Bitcoin Price Index through the following endpoint: https://api.coindesk.com/v1/bpi/historical/close.json
By default, this will return the previous 31 days' worth of data. This endpoint accepts the following optional parameters:
Sample Request: https://api.coindesk.com/v1/bpi/historical/close.json?start=2013-09-01&end=2013-09-05 Sample JSON Response:
{"bpi":{"2013-09-01":128.2597,"2013-09-02":127.3648,"2013-09-03":127.5915,"2013-09-04":120.5738,"2013-09-05":120.5333},"disclaimer":"This data was produced from the CoinDesk Bitcoin Price Index. BPI value data returned as USD.","time":{"updated":"Sep 6, 2013 00:03:00 UTC","updatedISO":"2013-09-06T00:03:00+00:00"}}
If you have any feedback or suggestions with regards to this API, please send them to index@coindesk.com.
15th Oct 2017 09:35:00 UTC: BTCC removed temporarily from the XBP (CNY) due to continued performance issues with their API.
15th Oct 2017 09:30:00 UTC: Bitfinex added back into the XBP, OkCoin (USD) removed due to discontinuing USD trading at end of month.
21st Apr 2017 09:30:00 UTC: Bitfinex temporarily suspended from XBP due to fiat withdrawal/deposit issues.
23rd Feb 2017 09:30:00 UTC: Bitfinex re-added to the XBP.
23rd Feb 2017 09:25:00 UTC: Huobi removed from the XBP (CNY) due to continued performance issues with their API.
3rd Aug 2016 20:25:00 UTC:Bitfinex temporarily suspended from the XBP.
5th Nov 2015 11:00:00 UTC: The sixth criterion of the XBP was amended so that the stated and/or actual time for a majority of fiat currency and bitcoin transfers (whether deposits or withdrawals) must not exceed two business days. BTC-E removed from the XBP.
21st Jul 2015 15:00:00 UTC: Coinbase and itBit added to the XBP. The minimum acceptable volume criterion was amended so that each exchange must represent at least 5% of the total 30-day cumulative volume for all exchanges in the XBP.
25th Jun 2015 16:00:00 UTC: LakeBTC removed from the XBP due to continued performance issues with their API.
1st Mar 2015 00:00:00 UTC: itBit removed from the XBP for failing to meet CoinDesk XBP minimum acceptable criteria.
29th Jan 2015 21:00:00 UTC: LakeBTC re-added to the XBP.
10th Jan 2015 01:45:00 UTC: Bitstamp re-added to the XBP.
5th Jan 2015 09:43:00 UTC:Bitstamp temporarily suspended from the XBP.
30th Dec 2014 15:00:00 UTC:LakeBTC remains suspended from the XBP for another 30 days while we continue to review their price data.
30th Nov 2014 15:00:00 UTC:LakeBTC remains suspended25th Nov 2014 25th Nov 2014 from the XBP for another 30 days while we continue to review their price data.
25th Nov 2014 15:00:00 UTC: The sixth criterion for inclusion in the XBP was amended to allow bitcoin transfers to take up to two business days, rather than up to 24 hours. OKCoin and itBit were added to the USD XBP.
31st Oct 2014 15:00:00 UTC:LakeBTC was suspended from the XBP for 30 days.
30th Jun 2014 15:00:00 UTC:LakeBTC and Huobi were added to the USD and CNY XBPs respectively.
30th Mar 2014 00:00:00 UTC: End-of-day open, high, low and closing XBP is now based on Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) time. The XBP does not adjust to follow British Standard Time.
26th Mar 2014 23:00:00 UTC: New standalone China Bitcoin Price Index created based on the price and volume of bitcoins exchanged for Chinese yuan (CNY); two exchanges included at launch (BTC China and OKCoin).
13th Mar 2014 16:00:00 UTC:Bitfinex was added to the XBP.
10th Feb 2014 16:00:00 UTC:Mt. Gox was removed from the XBP for failing to meet its criteria.
10th Feb 2014 15:30:00 UTC: The sixth criterion for inclusion in the XBP was amended to include the option for bitcoin transfers to be completed within seven days in place of fiat transfers.
28th Nov 2013 12:00:00 UTC:Mt. Gox was added to the XBP due to a reduction in the risk premium and the option of additional deposit/withdrawal methods.
7th Nov 2013 00:00:00 UTC:CampBX was removed from the XBP due to sustained diminishing volume and a lack of regular 24-hour trading activity.
4th Nov 2013 12:00:00 UTC: The minimum acceptable volume criterion was amended so that each exchange must represent at least 2% of the total 30-day cumulative volume for all exchanges in the XBP.
20th Sep 2013 12:00:00 UTC: A criterion was added specifying that exchange daily trading volumes must meet minimum acceptable levels as determined by CoinDesk.
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