Frameworks
Documentation Index
Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.base.org/llms.txt Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
Frameworks
Choose the right framework for building and running AI agents on Base
Your first decision when building an AI agent on Base is choosing a framework. This determines how you write your agent's logic, where it runs, and how much infrastructure you manage yourself.
<iframe className="w-full aspect-video rounded-xl" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/b5Wx2NAeY2E?si=r1FumIsbGt6nAt29" title="Building agents on Base" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowFullScreen />Comparing your options
| BANKR | OpenClaw | Agent SDK | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | A managed Agent API, plus skill and wallet plugins for OpenClaw | An open-source personal AI assistant that runs across multiple channels (Discord, Telegram, web) | A developer toolkit for building custom agents with full control over behavior and integrations |
| Language | Any (REST API) for Agent API; TypeScript for OpenClaw plugins | TypeScript | TypeScript / Python |
| Hosting | Agent API is managed by BANKR; OpenClaw plugins run in your self-hosted agent | Self-hosted | Self-hosted |
| Best for | Agent API for adding onchain capabilities without managing infrastructure; OpenClaw plugins for adding onchain skills to a self-hosted agent | Running a multi-channel assistant with pre-built skills and plugin support | Production agents where you need full control over logic, integrations, and deployment |
BANKR
BANKR offers two ways to work with agents on Base. The BANKR Agent API is a hosted agent you interact with through a REST API: you send prompts and receive results, including the ability to execute trades and check balances, without building or deploying your own agent. This is the fastest way to add onchain agent capabilities to an existing application.
BANKR also provides skills and wallet plugins for OpenClaw. If you're building with OpenClaw, you can install BANKR's skill packages to give your self-hosted agent wallet capabilities, token swaps, and other onchain actions without using the managed API.
Use the BANKR Agent API when you want onchain agent capabilities without managing infrastructure. Use BANKR's OpenClaw plugins when you want BANKR's onchain skills inside your own self-hosted agent.
Get started with BANKR Agent API →
Browse BANKR skills for OpenClaw →
OpenClaw
OpenClaw is an open-source AI assistant that connects to multiple messaging platforms out of the box. It comes with a plugin system for adding skills (pre-built actions your agent can perform) and handles the infrastructure for receiving messages, processing them, and responding across channels.
Use OpenClaw when you want to run a conversational agent across Discord, Telegram, or web and extend it with community-built plugins.
Agent SDK
Coinbase's Agent SDK gives you the building blocks to create agents that can interact with <Tooltip tip="Blockchain-based protocols and applications, such as decentralized exchanges or lending platforms">onchain services</Tooltip>. You write the agent logic, define its tools, and deploy it on your own infrastructure. This is the most flexible option: you control every aspect of the agent's behavior, from how it processes prompts to which services it calls.
Use Agent SDK when you're building a production agent and want full control over its architecture.
<Tip> **How to choose:** Use the **BANKR Agent API** to call an agent via API without building one, or add **BANKR's skill plugins** to an OpenClaw agent for onchain capabilities. Use **OpenClaw** if you need a multi-channel chatbot with plugins. Use **Agent SDK** if you want full control over logic, integrations, and deployment. </Tip>