How to integrate Pinata using MCP
Manage IPFS-pinned files on Pinata. This guide creates an MCP server from Arthur's Pinata template — tools preconfigured against https://api.pinata.cloud/v3 — and finishes by sharing the server's MCP swagger documentation.
Steps
Open the Secrets vault and create a secret named
PINATA_API_KEYholding your access token. Generate a Pinata API JWT (with appropriate org:files scopes) from the Pinata dashboard and send it as Authorization: Bearer. 


Go to the REST API Templates gallery and search for Pinata.


Click Use template on the Pinata card to open the server-creation dialog.


Review the server name and select
PINATA_API_KEYin the credential field — the dialog only accepts vault secrets, and it lists every tool that will be created.


Click Create server. Arthur creates the server, applies the authentication, and generates all the tools.





Open the server's Tools tab to review the generated tools.

Open the server's Connect section and click Share the MCP swagger documentation — Arthur generates the public documentation link and QR code for this server.



Confirm it worked
The server appears with 4 preconfigured tool(s): list_files, get_file, delete_file, pin_by_cid. The Connect section offers the MCP swagger documentation — a shareable page with setup instructions for any AI client.
Good to know
- List, retrieve, delete, and pin existing IPFS content by CID on Pinata's public or private IPFS network.
- This integration requires a credential (bearer). Get one at https://app.pinata.cloud/register.
- Official API documentation: https://docs.pinata.cloud/
- Editing a tool later never changes the template — templates are starting points, and the server is fully yours after creation.
Related
Tutorial video