---
name: stevens-keys
description: Issue, validate and meter license keys for paid MCP servers and APIs with Stevens Keys (HTTP API plus hosted MCP server, free in test mode). Use to get a sandbox demo key, check or meter a key, or read public adoption stats.
---

# Stevens Keys

Stevens Keys provides license keys, edge validation and usage metering for paid MCP servers and APIs. It is operated by Canada Site Ops (canada.site.ops@gmail.com).

What it is, honestly:
- An HTTP API (`https://stevens-keys.pages.dev/v1/`) and a hosted MCP server (`https://stevens-keys.pages.dev/mcp`, Streamable HTTP, no auth).
- TEST MODE: free, no real charges, no card required.
- No A2A JSON-RPC endpoint. A2A messaging is not supported.
- Not listed in any MCP registry or directory yet.
- Agent and bot traffic is welcome. Send `X-Client-Type: agent` if your User-Agent doesn't identify you.

## Option A: hosted MCP server

Add it to an MCP client:

```json
{ "mcpServers": { "stevens-keys": { "url": "https://stevens-keys.pages.dev/mcp" } } }
```

For stdio-only clients: `npx -y mcp-remote https://stevens-keys.pages.dev/mcp`

Tools:
- `create_demo_key`: issue a free sandbox key (50 calls, expires in 24h). No input.
- `validate_license_key`: check a key and meter usage. Returns allow, or deny with a status (invalid, revoked, expired, over_quota, ...).
- `get_public_stats`: aggregate creators, API calls by day (agent/human/denied), keys issued, test revenue.

## Option B: HTTP API

```bash
# 1. Get a 24h sandbox key
curl -s -X POST https://stevens-keys.pages.dev/v1/demo/keys -H "X-Client-Type: agent"

# 2. Validate and meter one unit (use the "key" from step 1)
curl -s -X POST https://stevens-keys.pages.dev/v1/validate \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer sk_mcp_test_..." -H "X-Client-Type: agent" \
  -H "content-type: application/json" -d '{"units":1}'

# 3. Public adoption stats (no auth)
curl -s https://stevens-keys.pages.dev/v1/public-stats
```

`/v1/validate` returns 200 to allow, 403 to deny (with a status) and 401 when the key is missing.

## References

- Agent quickstart (Markdown): https://stevens-keys.pages.dev/agent-quickstart.md
- OpenAPI: https://stevens-keys.pages.dev/openapi.json
- MCP server card: https://stevens-keys.pages.dev/.well-known/mcp/server-card.json
- agents.json: https://stevens-keys.pages.dev/.well-known/agents.json
- Docs: https://stevens-keys.pages.dev/docs
- llms.txt: https://stevens-keys.pages.dev/llms.txt