Api3

First-party oracle network returning OEV rewards to DeFi protocols across over 15 chains

Infrastructure provider Founded 2020 Oct 20

Visit api3.org

3.7/ 5

Our score

Good

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Services Oracle

Chains supported 19

Token API3

What is Api3?

Api3 is an oracle network that connects web APIs directly to smart contracts without third-party intermediary nodes. By deploying first-party oracles operated directly by API providers, the network curates price feeds while capturing Oracle Extractable Value (OEV) to redirect protocol revenue back to decentralized applications. By October 2026, the network had distributed over $416,000 in cumulative OEV rewards.

Governance and backing

The project launched in 2020 under the governance of the API3 DAO. In November 2020, Api3 raised a $3 million seed round from investors including Pantera Capital, CoinFund, Placeholder, DCG, Hashed, Accomplice, and Solidity Ventures. The September 2026 funding proposal covered periodic API3 token purchases and AirnodeHub development.

First-party architecture and OEV

The architecture captures OEV and returns revenue to decentralized applications. Beyond price feeds, Api3 operates AirnodeHub, an API marketplace where agents discover and pay for APIs, with data sources paid per response.

Network coverage and track record

Api3 secures over 100 data feeds across networks including Ethereum, Base, Arbitrum, Linea, Polygon, Mantle, Sonic, Blast, and BOB. By October 2026, the protocol held $19.55 million in total value locked and secured approximately $13.26 million in assets across integrated lending vaults and markets, generating $113,338 in 30-day fees. Smart contract audit reports are available on GitHub.

Systemic trade-offs

Governance decisions and staking initiatives are tied to the API3 token.

Founders

Burak BudakCo-founder

Former smart contract developer and co-founder of CLG.

Heikki VänttinenCo-founder

Former founder of CLG and smart contract ecosystem researcher.

Saša MilićCo-founder

Former software engineer and data scientist at Facebook.

Best for:Lending protocols minimizing MEV leakageDevelopers needing source-signed data feedsAutonomous agents purchasing API data

Pros and cons

Pros

Uses first-party oracles operated directly by API providers
Returned over $416,000 in captured OEV rewards to protocols as of October 2026
Open-source smart contract code with audit reports available on GitHub
Broad network coverage deployed across more than 15 EVM blockchains

Cons

Total value secured remains under $15 million as of October 2026
Protocol governance is tied to the API3 token

Our review

3.7/5

Good

Api3 recaptures oracle extractable value for lending protocols, with $13.26 million in total value secured as of October 2026.

Reliability3.5

Chain coverage4.0

Pricing4.0

Developer experience4.0

Support3.0

Api3 delivers first-party oracle feeds through Airnode. The system connects data providers directly to smart contracts without middleman nodes, capturing Oracle Extractable Value during liquidations and returning that revenue to integrated decentralized applications. By October 2026, the network had distributed $416,069 in total OEV rewards to lending markets and protocols.

Supported networks include Ethereum, Base, Arbitrum, Linea, Mantle, Sonic, and Polygon. Beyond basic feeds, Api3 operates curated lending vaults on Morpho and runs AirnodeHub, an early-access marketplace where autonomous AI agents invoke and pay for signed API data per response.

Contracts are open-source. The API3 DAO approved a September 2026 funding proposal covering treasury management, recurring API3 purchases, and AirnodeHub development after a $3 million seed round from Pantera Capital, Placeholder, and CoinFund in November 2020.

Total value secured reached $13.26 million in October 2026. This represented 0.2% of the risk curator category.

Listings are researched and drafted with AI assistance from public sources, then checked for accuracy and readability. Spot an error? Tell us. Editorial policy.

Sources (3)

Specs

Services	Oracle
Chains supported	19 · unverified
Open source	Yes
Token	API3

Not disclosed by the provider: Free tier, Pricing from, Enterprise SLA, Uptime SLA, Free tier limits, Server regions.

Data from the provider's website and public sources. Fees and availability change; confirm on the official site before you sign up.

Key features

First-party Airnode

Allows API providers to run their own serverless nodes and sign real-world data directly at the source.

OEV recapture

Redirects oracle extractable value back to integrated DeFi protocols.

AirnodeHub marketplace

Enables automated agents and smart contracts to discover, query, and pay for signed API data per request.

Cross-chain data feeds

Supplies over 100 live data feeds across networks including Ethereum, Base, Arbitrum, Linea, and Polygon.

Morpho vault risk curation

Curates custom collateral lending vaults on Morpho.

Inside Api3

First-Party Data Feeds and OEV Rewards

Delivers direct data feeds to smart contracts while capturing oracle extractable value and returning it as revenue to integrated DeFi protocols.

AirnodeHub

An early-access data marketplace allowing automated agents to discover, query, and pay for signed API responses per request.

API3 Statements

An onchain statement interface allowing users to view wallet transaction histories, complete vault quests, and qualify for reward tiers.

Api3 screenshots

The Api3 homepage shows a hero section about oracles and OEV rewards for DeFi projects · Oct 20, 2026

Docs: API3 Docs dApps page with navigation and documentation about API3 Market and OEV Rewards · Oct 20, 2026

What users say about Api3

User feedback remains too limited to gauge sentiment or pinpoint recurring praise and complaints regarding Api3. The project closed its subreddit and directs users to its Discord server instead.

Based on 1 Reddit posts and comments from the last 12 months, checked Oct 20, 2026. These are posts by users on other sites, not reviews submitted on CryptoReview.

User reviews

No user reviews yet. Have you used Api3? Share your experience below.

Funding and investors

$3MTotal raised

1Round

12Investors

Seed Nov 2020 $3M

AC AccompliceVenture capital BS Buck StashVenture capital CP Cashican People LLCVenture capital CoinFundVenture capital CV Crowd Venture CapitalVenture capital Digital Currency GroupCorporate VC EC Equilibrium CapitalVenture capital HashedVenture capital Pantera CapitalVenture capital PlaceholderVenture capital RC Raystone CapitalVenture capital SV Solidity VenturesVenture capital

FAQ

What is Api3?

Api3 is a first-party oracle network governed by the API3 DAO that provides direct data feeds to blockchains. It features an Oracle Extractable Value mechanism designed to capture and return liquidation revenue to integrated DeFi protocols.

Does Api3 have a native token?

Yes, Api3 uses the API3 token. It functions as the governance token for the API3 DAO, directing treasury spending, roadmap funding, and staking initiatives.

Which blockchains does Api3 support?

Api3 is deployed across multiple networks including Ethereum, Base, Arbitrum, Blast, Linea, Mantle, Polygon, Mode, BOB, and Sonic.

Has Api3 undergone security audits?

Yes, Api3 publishes smart contract audit reports directly in its public GitHub contracts repository.

What is AirnodeHub?

AirnodeHub is an API marketplace where automated AI agents discover, call, and pay for off-chain API responses directly. Data providers sign each response at the source and receive payment per query.

Latest from Api3 on X

Api3

@API3DAO · 68.1K followers

Nov 2, 2026

$UNI is now live as collateral on Kabu’s USDC markets 🦄

→ Supply $UNI as collateral
→ Borrow USDC against it
→ Keep your exposure without selling

👇
https://t.co/qFoEYJgjWG https://t.co/zid9TBTpFL

7 2 25 1.4K View on X

Oct 29, 2026

API3 Morpho Vaults have no meaningful exposure to the ongoing incident.

Volatile market conditions may lead to liquidity crunches on some vaults.

We want to reiterate that the underlying markets are completely fine and rates should return to normal with liquidity returning.

11 6 47 3.3K View on X

Oct 29, 2026

200,000,000 API3. Not one more.

Ending emissions. Retiring the Aragon DAO. Moving governance to Snapshot.

The Primary Proposal is LIVE.

A new era for API3 starts with your vote.

→ https://t.co/OsZI9W4NNZ https://t.co/ehhpBIkf6m

10 12 67 3.9K View on X

Oct 29, 2026

Munich, see you tomorrow.

The @tbc_munich hackathon starts in 24 hours. https://t.co/DycKKKa9Zt

4 4 39 2.2K View on X

Oct 28, 2026

Your API3 statement now has new quests.

Each one you finish adds product points and moves you up the leaderboard.

New quests land every week.

Start one: https://t.co/zbFwR1AjmR https://t.co/59f8pgGYSA https://t.co/Bj1Lx68aAg