Quick Start API

Use this page when you want the fastest path from zero to one working Carbium Swap API request.

The deeper pages own the full product map, executable quote behavior, signing flow, pricing, and error handling. This quick start stays intentionally light: get a key, make one GET /api/v2/quote request, then choose the right next guide.

Part of the Carbium Solana infrastructure stack.

The 5-minute path

For most new integrations, start in this order:

1. Create a Swap API key at api.carbium.io.
2. Store it as CARBIUM_API_KEY in your backend environment.
3. Send one authenticated quote request to https://api.carbium.io/api/v2/quote.
4. Add user_account only when you are ready to request an executable transaction payload.
5. Move into the execution guide after the quote response is stable.

That sequence prevents two common first-day mistakes: using the RPC key on the Swap API, and mixing Q1 v2 parameter names with the older v1 quote or swap request family.

What you need first

Use a dedicated environment variable so the Swap API key is not confused with your RPC key:

CARBIUM_API_KEY=api_live_xxx

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Carbium Swap API uses the X-API-KEY header on api.carbium.io. Carbium RPC uses a separate RPC key on rpc.carbium.io.

First call: quote SOL to USDC

Run a quote-only request before you wire the response into a wallet or backend executor:

curl --request GET \
  --url 'https://api.carbium.io/api/v2/quote?src_mint=So11111111111111111111111111111111111111112&dst_mint=EPjFWdd5AufqSSqeM2qN1xzybapC8G4wEGGkZwyTDt1v&amount_in=1000000&slippage_bps=50' \
  --header "X-API-KEY: $CARBIUM_API_KEY"

This request uses the current Q1 parameter family:

If the response returns quote data, your key, endpoint, and request shape are wired well enough to continue.

When you need a transaction payload

Quote-only responses are useful for price display, route inspection, and early integration checks. When your app needs an executable transaction, add user_account to the same Q1 request:

curl --request GET \
  --url 'https://api.carbium.io/api/v2/quote?src_mint=So11111111111111111111111111111111111111112&dst_mint=EPjFWdd5AufqSSqeM2qN1xzybapC8G4wEGGkZwyTDt1v&amount_in=1000000&slippage_bps=50&user_account=YOUR_WALLET' \
  --header "X-API-KEY: $CARBIUM_API_KEY"

The response can include txn, a base64 transaction payload. Your app still owns signing, submission, and confirmation.

Use Q1 for the full request and response shape. Use Quote to Swap Integration Guide when you are ready to connect quote, signing, RPC submission, and confirmation into one flow.

Choose the next page by job

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Ready to build with Carbium Swap API? Start with the setup flow at carbium.io, then make the first Q1 request from your backend.