> For clean Markdown of any page, append .md to the page URL.
> For a complete documentation index, see https://docs.mitu.ai/llms.txt.
> For AI client integration (Claude Code, Cursor, etc.), connect to the MCP server at https://docs.mitu.ai/_mcp/server.

# Get set up with Mitu

Before you can use the Mitu API, you need an API key to authenticate requests from your server. This guide will help you create an API key, store it securely and confirm that your integration is working correctly.

Once you have made your first successful request, you can continue setting up the parts of Mitu that your business needs. You can create customers, issue Agent Wallets, accept payments and configure webhooks as you build your integration.

#### Create an API key

Sign in to the Mitu dashboard and open **API keys**. Create a new API key that your application can use to authenticate requests to the Mitu API.

Your API key should only be used from a secure server environment. It gives your application access to your Mitu account and should be protected like any other sensitive credential.

> **Save your API key**
>
> Your full API key is only shown when it is created, so copy it and store it securely before leaving the page. If you lose it or believe it has been compromised, create a new key and revoke the old one from the dashboard.

#### Store your API key

Store your API key in an environment variable or in the secrets manager used by your application. This keeps the key outside your source code while making it available to your server when it needs to make a request.

```bash
export MITU_API_KEY="sk_test_…"
```

> **Keep your API key server-side**
>
> Do not commit your API key to source control or include it in code that runs in a browser or other client-side environment. Requests that use your API key should be made from a trusted server environment.

#### Make your first request

Make a request to the `ping` endpoint to confirm that your API key is valid and that your application can connect to the Mitu API successfully.

**`Request`**

```bash title="Request"
curl --request GET \
  --url https://api.mitu.ai/v1/ping \
  --header "x-api-key: $MITU_API_KEY"
```

When the request is successful, the API returns information about the account associated with the key and the environment being used.

**`200 OK`**

```json title="200 OK"
{
  "ok": true,
  "account_id": "acc_8f21c4d9b7e3",
  "environment": "test"
}
```

Check that the `account_id` and `environment` in the response match the account and environment you intended to use. If the request succeeds and the returned information is correct, your API key is configured properly and you can start making authenticated requests.

## You are ready to build

Your API key is now configured and you have confirmed that your application can make authenticated requests. You can continue with the quick start guide that matches what you want to build next.

#### [Create your first customer](/guides/quick-start/create-your-first-customer)

Create a customer and connect the customer to the corresponding user in your existing system.

#### [Issue your first wallet](/guides/quick-start/issue-your-first-wallet)

Issue an Agent Wallet that your customer's AI agents can use to make payments on their behalf.

#### [Accept your first payment](/guides/quick-start/accept-your-first-payment)

Create your first payment experience and receive a payment from a human or an AI agent.

#### [Configure webhooks](/guides/quick-start/configure-webhooks)

Configure webhooks so your application can receive events when activity occurs in your account.