# Crypto Request — Fund the Wallet with USDC

Request USDC funding for the agent's wallet. Generates an approval URL where the user can deposit funds. If the wallet isn't configured yet, this command bundles setup automatically.

## Command

```bash
lobstercash crypto request --amount <amount> --description "<desc>"
```

## When to use

- The user wants to add funds or top up their wallet
- Balance is insufficient for a crypto operation (`crypto send`, `crypto x402 fetch`, `crypto tx`)
- The wallet isn't configured and the user needs crypto (not card) — this bundles setup + funding in one step

## What you need before running

- `amount`: how much USDC to request (e.g. `25.00`)
- `description`: what the agent will spend the funds on — derived from the user's task, not generic filler. Good: `"Pay for 3 Exa searches on competitor pricing"`. Bad: `"Top up wallet"`, `"Fund wallet for API calls"`.

Calculate the amount based on what the user needs. If topping up for a specific operation, use: `needed amount - current balance`.

Always check balance first with `lobstercash crypto balance` to know the current state.

## Reading the output

The output contains:

- `agentId`: the agent this request is for
- `amount`: the requested funding amount in USDC
- `description`: what the funds are for
- `approvalUrl`: the URL the user must open to approve
- `setupSessionId`: present if wallet setup was bundled (first-time use)

## After running

Show the approval URL to the user:

> To fund $[amount] USDC, open this link:
>
> [approvalUrl]
>
> Come back here when you've completed the funding.

Do not proceed until the user confirms they have funded the wallet.

## After user confirms

Run `lobstercash status` to verify the funds landed and the wallet is ready. Then proceed with the user's original task (`crypto send`, `crypto x402 fetch`, etc.).

## Gotchas

- If the wallet isn't configured, setup is bundled automatically — do not run `lobstercash setup` first
- Only needed for crypto operations — virtual cards (`cards request`) don't require USDC, so don't use this when `paymentMethods` includes `card`
- Always check balance first (`lobstercash crypto balance`) — know the current state before requesting
- Write operation — do not retry automatically or if the user declines