Provides comprehensive trading capabilities through Alpaca's API including stock, options, and crypto trading, portfolio management, real-time market data access, and order execution with support for various order types and trading strategies.
Start here
Claude Desktop
Local: Use
uvx(recommended) orinstall.py→ see Claude Desktop Configuration
Claude Code
Local: Use
uvx(recommended) or Docker → see Claude Code Configuration
Cursor
Local (Cursor Directory): Use the Cursor Directory entry and connect in a few clicks → see Quick Start
Local (install.py): Use
install.pyto set up and auto-configure Cursor → see Cursor Configuration
VS Code
Local: Use
uvx→ see VS Code Configuration
PyCharm
Local: Use
uvx→ see PyCharm Configuration
Note: How to show hidden files
macOS Finder: Command + Shift + .
Linux file managers: Ctrl + H
Windows File Explorer: Alt, V, H
Terminal (macOS/Linux):
ls -a
Table of Contents
Prerequisites
Python 3.10+
uv (for
uvxcommands). Install via the official guide: https://docs.astral.sh/uv/getting-started/installation/. Then, restart your terminalAlpaca Trading API keys (free paper trading account available)
MCP client (Claude Desktop, Cursor, VS Code, etc.)
Getting Your API Keys
Create a free paper trading account
Generate API keys from the dashboard
Quick Start (Local Installation)
One-click installation with uvx from PyPI:
Note: If you don't have uv yet, install it first and then restart your terminal so uv/uvx are recognized. See the official guide: https://docs.astral.sh/uv/getting-started/installation/
Then add to your MCP client config :
Config file locations:
Claude Desktop:
~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json(Mac) or%APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json(Windows)Cursor:
~/.cursor/mcp.json(Mac/Linux) or%USERPROFILE%\.cursor\mcp.json(Windows)
One-click installation from Cursor Directory:
For Cursor users, you can quickly install Alpaca from the Cursor Directory in just a few clicks.
1. Find Alpaca in the
2. Click "Add to Cursor" to launch Cursor on your computer
3. Enter your API Key and Secret Key
4. You’re all set to start using it
Features
Market Data
Real-time quotes, trades, and price bars for stocks, crypto, and options
Historical data with flexible timeframes (1Min to 1Month)
Comprehensive stock snapshots and trade-level history
Option contract quotes and Greeks
Account Management
View balances, buying power, and account status
Inspect all open and closed positions
Position Management
Get detailed info on individual holdings
Liquidate all or partial positions by share count or percentage
Order Management
Place stocks, ETFs, crypto, and options orders
Support for market, limit, stop, stop-limit, and trailing-stop orders
Cancel orders individually or in bulk
Retrieve full order history
Options Trading
Search option contracts by expiration, strike price, and type
Place single-leg or multi-leg options strategies (spreads, straddles, etc.)
Get latest quotes, Greeks, and implied volatility
Crypto Trading
Place market, limit, and stop-limit crypto orders
Support for GTC and IOC time in force
Handle quantity or notional-based orders
Market Status & Corporate Actions
Check if markets are open
Fetch market calendar and trading sessions
View upcoming / historical corporate announcements (earnings, splits, dividends)
Watchlist Management
Create, update, and view personal watchlists
Manage multiple watchlists for tracking assets
Asset Search
Query details for stocks, ETFs, crypto, and options
Filter assets by status, class, exchange, and attributes
Example Natural Language Queries
What's my current account balance and buying power on Alpaca?
Show me my current positions in my Alpaca account.
Buy 5 shares of AAPL at market price.
Sell 5 shares of TSLA with a limit price of $300.
Cancel all open stock orders.
Cancel the order with ID abc123.
Liquidate my entire position in GOOGL.
Close 10% of my position in NVDA.
Place a limit order to buy 100 shares of MSFT at $450.
Place a market order to sell 25 shares of META.
Place a market order to buy 0.01 ETH/USD.
Place a limit order to sell 0.01 BTC/USD at $110,000.
Show me available option contracts for AAPL expiring next month.
Get the latest quote for the AAPL250613C00200000 option.
Retrieve the option snapshot for the SPY250627P00400000 option.
Liquidate my position in 2 contracts of QQQ calls expiring next week.
Place a market order to buy 1 call option on AAPL expiring next Friday.
What are the option Greeks for the TSLA250620P00500000 option?
Find TSLA option contracts with strike prices within 5% of the current market price.
Get SPY call options expiring the week of June 16th, 2025, within 10% of market price.
Place a bull call spread using AAPL June 6th options: one with a 190.00 strike and the other with a 200.00 strike.
Exercise my NVDA call option contract NVDA250919C001680.
To access the latest 15-minute data, you need to subscribe to the Algo Trader Plus Plan.
What are the market open and close times today?
Show me the market calendar for next week.
Show me recent cash dividends and stock splits for AAPL, MSFT, and GOOGL in the last 3 months.
Get all corporate actions for SPY including dividends, splits, and any mergers in the past year.
What are the upcoming corporate actions scheduled for SPY in the next 6 months?
Show me AAPL's daily price history for the last 5 trading days.
What was the closing price of TSLA yesterday?
Get the latest bar for GOOGL.
What was the latest trade price for NVDA?
Show me the most recent quote for MSFT.
Retrieve the last 100 trades for AMD.
Show me 1-minute bars for AMZN from the last 2 hours.
Get 5-minute intraday bars for TSLA from last Tuesday through last Friday.
Get a comprehensive stock snapshot for AAPL showing latest quote, trade, minute bar, daily bar, and previous daily bar all in one view.
Compare market snapshots for TSLA, NVDA, and MSFT to analyze their current bid/ask spreads, latest trade prices, and daily performance.
Show me all my open and filled orders from this week.
What orders do I have for AAPL?
List all limit orders I placed in the past 3 days.
Filter all orders by status: filled.
Get me the order history for yesterday.
At this moment, you can only view and update trading watchlists created via Alpaca’s Trading API through the API itself
Create a new watchlist called "Tech Stocks" with AAPL, MSFT, and NVDA.
Update my "Tech Stocks" watchlist to include TSLA and AMZN.
What stocks are in my "Dividend Picks" watchlist?
Remove META from my "Growth Portfolio" watchlist.
List all my existing watchlists.
Search for details about the asset 'AAPL'.
Show me the top 5 tradable crypto assets by trading volume.
Get all NASDAQ active US equity assets and filter the results to show only tradable securities
Get today's market clock and show me my buying power before placing a limit buy order for TSLA at $340.
Place a bull call spread with SPY July 3rd options: sell one 5% above and buy one 3% below the current SPY price.
Example Outputs
The MCP server provides detailed, well-formatted responses for various trading queries. Here are some examples:
Option Greeks Analysis
Query: "What are the option Greeks for TSLA250620P00500000?"
Response: Option Details:
Current Bid/Ask: $142.62 / $143.89
Last Trade: $138.85
Implied Volatility: 92.54%
Greeks:
Delta: -0.8968 (Very Bearish)
Gamma: 0.0021 (Low Rate of Change)
Theta: -0.2658 (Time Decay: $26.58/day)
Vega: 0.1654 (Volatility Sensitivity)
Rho: -0.3060 (Interest Rate Sensitivity)
Key Insights:
High Implied Volatility (92.54%)
Deep In-the-Money (Delta: -0.90)
Significant Time Decay ($27/day)
Multi-Leg Option Order
Query: "Place a bull call spread using AAPL June 6th options: one with a 190.00 strike and the other with a 200.00 strike."
Response: Order Details:
Order ID: fc1c04b1-8afa-4b2d-aab1-49613bbed7cb
Order Class: Multi-Leg (MLEG)
Status: Pending New
Quantity: 1 spread
Spread Legs:
Long Leg (BUY):
AAPL250606C00190000 ($190.00 strike)
Status: Pending New
Short Leg (SELL):
AAPL250606C00200000 ($200.00 strike)
Status: Pending New
Strategy Summary:
Max Profit: $10.00 per spread
Max Loss: Net debit paid
Breakeven: $190 + net debit paid
These examples demonstrate the server's ability to provide:
Detailed market data analysis
Comprehensive order execution details
Clear strategy explanations
Well-formatted, easy-to-read responses
Installation Methods
1. Choose Your Installation Method
This section shows manual installation of Alpaca MCP Server.
Method 1: uvx
Method 2: Install.py
Clone the repository and navigate to the directory:
Execute the following commands in your terminal:
Method 3: Docker
Add to ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json:
Project Structure
After installing/cloning and activating the virtual environment, your directory structure should look like this:
2. Create and edit a .env file for your credentials in the project directory
Copy the example environment file in the project root by running this command:
cp .env.example .envReplace the credentials (e.g. API keys) in the
.envfile:ALPACA_API_KEY = "your_alpaca_api_key_for_paper_account" ALPACA_SECRET_KEY = "your_alpaca_secret_key_for_paper_account" ALPACA_PAPER_TRADE = True TRADE_API_URL = None TRADE_API_WSS = None DATA_API_URL = None STREAM_DATA_WSS = None DEBUG = False
3. Start the MCP Server (Remote Setup Only)
Note: You typically don't need to manually start the server for local usage. MCP clients like Claude Desktop and Cursor will automatically start the server when configured.
You only need to manually start the server if you're setting it up for remote access (e.g., running the server on a remote machine and connecting from a different computer).
For remote usage (HTTP transport):
Available transport options:
--transport stdio(default): Standard input/output for local client connections (automatically used by MCP clients)--transport http: HTTP transport for remote client connections (default: 127.0.0.1:8000)--transport sse: Server-Sent Events transport for remote connections (deprecated)--host HOST: Host to bind the server to for HTTP/SSE transport (default: 127.0.0.1)--port PORT: Port to bind the server to for HTTP/SSE transport (default: 8000)
Note: For more information about MCP transport methods, see the official MCP transport documentation.
4. Switching API Keys for Live Trading
This MCP server connects to Alpaca's paper Trading API by default for safe testing. To enable live trading with real funds or switch between different accounts, you need to update API credentials in two places:
.env(used by MCP server)MCP client config JSON (used by MCP client like Claude Desktop, Cursor, etc.)
Important: The MCP client configuration overrides the .env file. When using an MCP client, the credentials in the client's JSON config take precedence.
Place 1: Update .env File (Used by MCP Server)
For direct CLI usage or when running the server directly:
Option 1: Run the init command again to update your .env file:
Option 2: Manually edit the .env file in your current directory:
Place 2: Update MCP Client Config (Used by MCP Client)
For MCP client users (Claude Desktop, Cursor, VS Code, etc.):
Step 1: Edit your MCP client configuration file:
Claude Desktop:
~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json(Mac) or%APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json(Windows)Cursor:
~/.cursor/mcp.jsonVS Code:
.vscode/mcp.json(workspace) or usersettings.json
Step 2: Update the API keys in the env section:
For uvx installations:
Step 3: Restart your MCP client (Claude Desktop, Cursor, etc.)
MCP Client Configuration
Below you'll find step-by-step guides for connecting the Alpaca MCP server to various MCP clients. Choose the section that matches your preferred development environment or AI assistant.
Claude Desktop Configuration
Method 1: uvx (Recommended)
Simple and modern approach:
Install and configure the server:
uvx alpaca-mcp-server initOpen Claude Desktop → Settings → Developer → Edit Config
Add this configuration:
{ "mcpServers": { "alpaca": { "type": "stdio", "command": "uvx", "args": ["alpaca-mcp-server", "serve"], "env": { "ALPACA_API_KEY": "your_alpaca_api_key", "ALPACA_SECRET_KEY": "your_alpaca_secret_key" } } } }Restart Claude Desktop and start trading!
Method 2: install.py (Alternative local setup)
Choose claude when prompted. The installer sets up .venv, writes .env, and updates claude_desktop_config.json. Restart Claude Desktop.
Claude Code Configuration
Use this local setup to register the server with Claude Code.
Prerequisites:
Claude Code CLI installed and authenticated (see Anthropic docs below)
Alpaca API keys (paper or live)
Option 1: Using uvx (Recommended)
Requires uv installed: https://docs.astral.sh/uv/getting-started/installation/
Initialize the server (creates a local
.env):
Register the MCP server via Claude Code:
--scope useradds the server globally (available in all projects)Omit
--scope userto add it only to the current project
Option 2: Using Docker
Requires Docker installed and the image built locally (see Docker Configuration).
--scope useradds the server globally (available in all projects)Omit
--scope userto add it only to the current project
Verify
Launch the Claude Code CLI:
claudeRun
/mcpand confirm thealpacaserver and tools are listedIf the server doesn't appear, try
claude mcp listto review registered servers
Cursor Configuration
To use Alpaca MCP Server with Cursor, please follow the steps below. The official Cursor MCP setup document is available here: https://docs.cursor.com/context/mcp
Prerequisites
Cursor IDE installed with Claude AI enabled
Python and virtual environment set up (follow Installation steps above)
Local setup via install.py (recommended for local)
During the prompts, choose cursor and enter your API keys. The installer creates a .venv, writes a .env, and auto-updates ~/.cursor/mcp.json. Restart Cursor to load the config.
Note: If uv is not installed, the installer can help you install it. You may need to restart your terminal after installing uv so uv/uvx are recognized. Reference: https://docs.astral.sh/uv/getting-started/installation/
Configure the MCP Server
Method 1: Using Cursor Directory UI For Cursor users, you can quickly install Alpaca from the Cursor Directory in just a few clicks.
1. Find Alpaca in the
2. Click "Add to Cursor" to launch Cursor on your computer
3. Enter your API Key and Secret Key
4. You’re all set to start using it
Method 2: Using JSON Configuration
Create or edit ~/.cursor/mcp.json (macOS/Linux) or %USERPROFILE%\.cursor\mcp.json (Windows):
VS Code Configuration
To use Alpaca MCP Server with VS Code, please follow the steps below.
VS Code supports MCP servers through GitHub Copilot's agent mode. The official VS Code setup document is available here: https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/copilot/chat/mcp-servers
Prerequisites
VS Code with GitHub Copilot extension installed and active subscription
Python and virtual environment set up (follow Installation steps above)
MCP support enabled in VS Code (see below)
1. Enable MCP Support in VS Code
Open VS Code Settings (Ctrl/Cmd + ,)
Search for "chat.mcp.enabled" to check the box to enable MCP support
Search for "github.copilot.chat.experimental.mcp" to check the box to use instruction files
2. Configure the MCP Server (uvx recommended)
Recommendation: Use workspace-specific configuration (.vscode/mcp.json) instead of user-wide configuration. This allows different projects to use different API keys (multiple paper accounts or live trading) and keeps trading tools isolated from other development work.
For workspace-specific settings:
Create
.vscode/mcp.jsonin your project root.Add the Alpaca MCP server configuration manually to the mcp.json file:
{ "mcp": { "servers": { "alpaca": { "type": "stdio", "command": "uvx", "args": ["alpaca-mcp-server", "serve"], "env": { "ALPACA_API_KEY": "your_alpaca_api_key", "ALPACA_SECRET_KEY": "your_alpaca_secret_key" } } } } }Note: Replace
${workspaceFolder}with your actual project path. For example:Linux/macOS:
/Users/username/Documents/alpaca-mcp-serverWindows:
C:\\Users\\username\\Documents\\alpaca-mcp-server
For user-wide settings:
To configure an MCP server for all your workspaces, you can add the server configuration to your user settings.json file. This allows you to reuse the same server configuration across multiple projects.
Specify the server in the mcp VS Code user settings (settings.json) to enable the MCP server across all workspaces.
PyCharm Configuration
To use the Alpaca MCP Server with PyCharm, please follow the steps below. The official setup guide for configuring the MCP Server in PyCharm is available here: https://www.jetbrains.com/help/ai-assistant/configure-an-mcp-server.html
PyCharm supports MCP servers through its integrated MCP client functionality. This configuration ensures proper logging behavior and prevents common startup issues.
Open PyCharm Settings
Go to
File → SettingsNavigate to
Tools → Model Context Protocol (MCP)(or similar location depending on PyCharm version)
Add New MCP Server
Click
Addor+to create a new server configuration. You can also import the settings from Claude by clicking the corresponding button.Name: Enter any name you prefer for this server configuration (e.g., Alpaca MCP).
type: "stdio",
Command: "uvx",
Arguments: ["alpaca-mcp-server", "serve"]
Set Environment Variables Add the following environment variables in the Environment Variables parameter:
ALPACA_API_KEY="your_alpaca_api_key" ALPACA_SECRET_KEY="your_alpaca_secret_key" MCP_CLIENT=pycharm
Docker Configuration (locally)
Build the image:
Add to Claude Desktop config (~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json):
Replace your_alpaca_api_key and your_alpaca_secret_key with your actual Alpaca credentials, then restart Claude Desktop.
HTTP Transport for Remote Usage
For users who need to run the MCP server on a remote machine (e.g., Ubuntu server) and connect from a different machine (e.g., Windows Claude Desktop), use HTTP transport:
Server Setup (Remote Machine)
Remote Access Options:
Direct binding: Use
--host 0.0.0.0to bind to all interfaces for direct remote accessSSH tunneling:
ssh -L 8000:localhost:8000 user@your-serverfor secure access (recommended for localhost binding)Reverse proxy: Use nginx/Apache to expose the service securely with authentication
Client Setup
Update your Claude Desktop configuration to use HTTP:
Troubleshooting HTTP Transport Issues
Port not listening: Ensure the server started successfully and check firewall settings
Connection refused: Verify the server is running on the expected host:port
ENOENT errors: Make sure you're using the updated server command with
--transport httpRemote access: Use
--host 0.0.0.0for direct access, or SSH tunneling for localhost bindingPort conflicts: Use
--port <PORT>to specify a different port if default is busy
Available Tools
Account & Positions
get_account_info()– View balance, margin, and account statusget_positions()– List all held assetsget_open_position(symbol)– Detailed info on a specific positionclose_position(symbol, qty|percentage)– Close part or all of a positionclose_all_positions(cancel_orders)– Liquidate entire portfolio
Stock Market Data
get_stock_quote(symbol_or_symbols)– Real-time bid/ask quote for one or more symbolsget_stock_bars(symbol, days=5, timeframe="1Day", limit=None, start=None, end=None)– OHLCV historical bars with flexible timeframes (1Min, 5Min, 1Hour, 1Day, etc.)get_stock_latest_trade(symbol, feed=None, currency=None)– Latest market trade priceget_stock_latest_bar(symbol, feed=None, currency=None)– Most recent OHLC barget_stock_snapshot(symbol_or_symbols, feed=None, currency=None)– Comprehensive snapshot with latest quote, trade, minute bar, daily bar, and previous daily barget_stock_trades(symbol, days=5, limit=None, sort=Sort.ASC, feed=None, currency=None, asof=None)– Trade-level history
Orders
get_orders(status, limit)– Retrieve all or filtered ordersplace_stock_order(symbol, side, quantity, order_type="market", limit_price=None, stop_price=None, trail_price=None, trail_percent=None, time_in_force="day", extended_hours=False, client_order_id=None)– Place a stock order of any type (market, limit, stop, stop_limit, trailing_stop)cancel_order_by_id(order_id)– Cancel a specific ordercancel_all_orders()– Cancel all open orders
Crypto
place_crypto_order(symbol, side, order_type="market", time_in_force="gtc", qty=None, notional=None, limit_price=None, stop_price=None, client_order_id=None)– Place a crypto order supporting market, limit, and stop_limit types with GTC/IOC time in force
Options
get_option_contracts(underlying_symbol, expiration_date=None, expiration_date_gte=None, expiration_date_lte=None, expiration_expression=None, strike_price_gte=None, strike_price_lte=None, type=None, status=None, root_symbol=None, limit=None)– – Get option contracts with flexible filtering.get_option_latest_quote(option_symbol)– Latest bid/ask on contractget_option_snapshot(symbol_or_symbols)– Get Greeks and underlyingplace_option_market_order(legs, order_class=None, quantity=1, time_in_force=TimeInForce.DAY, extended_hours=False)– Execute option strategyexercise_options_position(symbol_or_contract_id)– Exercise a held option contract, converting it into the underlying asset
Market Info & Corporate Actions
get_market_clock()– Market open/close scheduleget_market_calendar(start, end)– Holidays and trading daysget_corporate_announcements(ca_types, start, end, symbols)– Historical and future corporate actions (e.g., earnings, dividends, splits)
Watchlists
create_watchlist(name, symbols)– Create a new listupdate_watchlist(watchlist_id, name=None, symbols=None)– Modify an existing listget_watchlists()– Retrieve all saved watchlists
Assets
get_asset_info(symbol)– Search asset metadataget_all_assets(status=None, asset_class=None, exchange=None, attributes=None)– List all tradable instruments with filtering options
Troubleshooting
uv/uvx not found: Install uv from the official guide (https://docs.astral.sh/uv/getting-started/installation/) and then restart your terminal so
uv/uvxare on PATH..env: Ensure the server starts in the same directory as.env. Remember MCP clientenvoverrides.env.Credentials missing: Set
ALPACA_API_KEYandALPACA_SECRET_KEYin.envor in the client'senvblock. Paper mode default isALPACA_PAPER_TRADE = True.Client didn’t pick up new config: Restart the client (Cursor, Claude Desktop, VS Code) after changes.
HTTP port conflicts: If using
--transport http, change--portto a free port.
Security Notice
This server can place real trades and access your portfolio. Treat your API keys as sensitive credentials. Review all actions proposed by the LLM carefully, especially for complex options strategies or multi-leg trades.
HTTP Transport Security: When using HTTP transport, the server defaults to localhost (127.0.0.1:8000) for security. For remote access, you can bind to all interfaces with --host 0.0.0.0, use SSH tunneling (ssh -L 8000:localhost:8000 user@server), or set up a reverse proxy with authentication for secure access.
Disclosure
Please note that the content on this page is for informational purposes only. Alpaca does not recommend any specific securities or investment strategies.
Options trading is not suitable for all investors due to its inherent high risk, which can potentially result in significant losses. Please read Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options (Options Disclosure Document) before investing in options.
Alpaca does not prepare, edit, endorse, or approve Third Party Content. Alpaca does not guarantee the accuracy, timeliness, completeness or usefulness of Third Party Content, and is not responsible or liable for any content, advertising, products, or other materials on or available from third party sites.
All investments involve risk, and the past performance of a security, or financial product does not guarantee future results or returns. There is no guarantee that any investment strategy will achieve its objectives. Please note that diversification does not ensure a profit, or protect against loss. There is always the potential of losing money when you invest in securities, or other financial products. Investors should consider their investment objectives and risks carefully before investing.
The algorithm’s calculations are based on historical and real-time market data but may not account for all market factors, including sudden price moves, liquidity constraints, or execution delays. Model assumptions, such as volatility estimates and dividend treatments, can impact performance and accuracy. Trades generated by the algorithm are subject to brokerage execution processes, market liquidity, order priority, and timing delays. These factors may cause deviations from expected trade execution prices or times. Users are responsible for monitoring algorithmic activity and understanding the risks involved. Alpaca is not liable for any losses incurred through the use of this system.
Past hypothetical backtest results do not guarantee future returns, and actual results may vary from the analysis.
The Paper Trading API is offered by AlpacaDB, Inc. and does not require real money or permit a user to transact in real securities in the market. Providing use of the Paper Trading API is not an offer or solicitation to buy or sell securities, securities derivative or futures products of any kind, or any type of trading or investment advice, recommendation or strategy, given or in any manner endorsed by AlpacaDB, Inc. or any AlpacaDB, Inc. affiliate and the information made available through the Paper Trading API is not an offer or solicitation of any kind in any jurisdiction where AlpacaDB, Inc. or any AlpacaDB, Inc. affiliate (collectively, “Alpaca”) is not authorized to do business.
Securities brokerage services are provided by Alpaca Securities LLC ("Alpaca Securities"), member FINRA/SIPC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of AlpacaDB, Inc. Technology and services are offered by AlpacaDB, Inc.
This is not an offer, solicitation of an offer, or advice to buy or sell securities or open a brokerage account in any jurisdiction where Alpaca Securities is not registered or licensed, as applicable.
Usage Analytics Notice
The user agent for API calls defaults to 'ALPACA-MCP-SERVER' to help Alpaca identify MCP server usage and improve user experience. You can opt out by modifying the 'USER_AGENT' constant in '.github/core/user_agent_mixin.py' or by removing the 'UserAgentMixin' from the client class definitions in 'src/alpaca_mcp_server/server.py' — though we kindly hope you'll keep it enabled to support ongoing improvements.
This server cannot be installed
hybrid server
The server is able to function both locally and remotely, depending on the configuration or use case.
Enables natural language trading operations through Alpaca's Trading API, supporting stocks, options, crypto, portfolio management, and real-time market data access through AI assistants like Claude.