> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.getblock.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.getblock.io/solana-market-data/getting-started.md).

# Getting Started

This guide walks you through the basic steps required to start using Solana Market Data.

### 1. Activate Solana Market Data

1. Log in to your [GetBlock account](https://account.getblock.io/)
2. Under Products, select **Solana Market Data**

<figure><img src="https://3589185681-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FFOeg95CadVyFvyLi70Bh%2Fuploads%2FhljuWooy4LGrpVewSP14%2Fimage.png?alt=media&amp;token=f4f8858a-9d47-4883-99f3-4da7a7946bc3" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

3. To subscribe, select any payment option best for you:

* **Card**
* **Crypto**
* **Prepaid credits**

{% hint style="success" %}
Click the **side drawer** to select your preferred payment method, then complete the purchase.

<img src="https://3589185681-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FFOeg95CadVyFvyLi70Bh%2Fuploads%2FTjTKqhYlPWbpjCNmgfnm%2Fimage.png?alt=media&amp;token=dd81212b-fe0c-4de0-b199-9c667c77ee27" alt="" data-size="original">
{% endhint %}

4. Once the subscription is active, your API key will be enabled for **Solana Market Data**.

{% hint style="info" %}
Need an API key? You can create one [API Key tab](https://account.getblock.io/products/solana-data-stream#api-keys)
{% endhint %}

### 2. Select a token pair

Solana Market Data returns market information for a specific token pair.

To choose the market you want to track, provide the mint addresses for:

* **Base Mint** — the asset you want to analyze
* **Quote Mint** — the asset used to price it

For example, to receive market data for **SOL/USDC**, select the corresponding **SOL** and **USDC** mint addresses as your base and quote assets.

<figure><img src="https://3589185681-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FFOeg95CadVyFvyLi70Bh%2Fuploads%2FNESHKD28EkDwQvAwOgby%2Fimage.png?alt=media&amp;token=42e04c2c-14d4-4bbd-a8e2-ce1e833f4f5e" alt="Solana market data parameter on playground"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

The selected pair is then applied across the available methods, including **Trades, Blocks,** [**VWAP**](#user-content-fn-1)[^1]**,** [**TWAP**](#user-content-fn-2)[^2]**, Volume, and** [**OHLCV**](#user-content-fn-3)[^3].

{% hint style="info" %}
You can select the Base Mint and Quote Mint directly in the [**Playground**](https://account.getblock.io/products/solana-data-stream#playground) to explore the data for a specific pair before integrating it into your application.
{% endhint %}

### 3. Choose the data you need

**Solana Market Data** provides several levels of processed market information.

Choose the method that best matches your use case:

<table data-search="false"><thead><tr><th>Method</th><th>Best for</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Trades</strong></td><td>Individual normalized trades</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Blocks</strong></td><td>Market activity aggregated by Solana slot</td></tr><tr><td><strong>VWAP</strong></td><td>Volume-weighted market price</td></tr><tr><td><strong>TWAP</strong></td><td>Time-weighted market price</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Volume</strong></td><td>Trading activity and traded volume</td></tr><tr><td><strong>OHLCV</strong></td><td>OHLCV charts and price visualization(candles)</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Token</strong></td><td>Comparing buying and selling activity</td></tr></tbody></table>

### 4. Select how you want to consume the data

You can access **Solana Market Data** through several protocols.

#### 1. HTTP

Use HTTP when you need a single response or want to retrieve the latest available data.

Typical use cases include:

* getting the current VWAP;
* retrieving recent trades;
* loading data when your application starts.

#### 2. WebSocket

Use WebSocket when you need continuous live updates.

It is suitable for:

* live dashboards;
* trading interfaces;
* continuously updated charts;
* real-time market monitoring.

#### 3. gRPC

Use the gRPC interface for server-side streaming and integrations that already use a Yellowstone-style workflow.

It provides processed Solana market data while allowing you to keep a familiar streaming integration model.

### 5. Configure your request

The parameters depend on the selected method, but most requests start with a few common choices:

* the **base token**;
* the **quote token**;
* the market data method you want to use;
* a **time window** for methods such as VWAP, TWAP, Volume, or Candles.

For example, you can request market data for:

```
SOL / USDC
```

and then choose whether you want Trades, VWAP, Candles, or another available metric.

### Try it in the Playground

The easiest way to explore Solana Market Data before writing code is through the **Playground**.

Use it to:

1. choose a method;
2. select a token pair;
3. configure the available parameters;
4. send a query or start a stream;
5. inspect the returned data.

<figure><img src="https://3589185681-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FFOeg95CadVyFvyLi70Bh%2Fuploads%2FfFDpHoSsnHc2EXvQ9Rue%2FScreenshot%202026-09-10%20at%203.20.16%E2%80%AFPM.png?alt=media&amp;token=8e8eef84-209f-4957-bcbe-d368bf61228e" alt="Solana market data playground"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

The Playground uses the same concepts exposed through the API, making it useful for understanding a method before integrating it into your application.

### 6. Integrate it into your application

Once you know which data you need, use the corresponding API method from your application.

A typical integration looks like this:

```mermaid
graph TD
  A[Choose a token pair] --> B[Choose a market data method]
  B --> C[Query current or recent data]
  C --> D[Subscribe to live updates if needed]
  D --> E[Use the data in your application]
```

For exact request parameters, response fields, and streaming behavior, continue to the documentation for the specific [**Market Data method** ](/solana-market-data/market-data.md)or see the [**API Reference**](/solana-market-data/api-reference.md).

[^1]: VWAP stands for **Volume-Weighted Average Price**, a technical analysis indicator that shows the average price a security has traded at throughout the day, weighted by its trading volume

[^2]: TWAP stands for Time-Weighted Average Price, an algorithmic strategy that breaks a large trade into smaller pieces executed at regular time intervals.

[^3]: **OHLCV** stands for **Open, High, Low, Close, and Volume**, which are the five core data points used to summarize price movement and trading activity for any financial asset over a specific time frame