# Claude (desktop and web)

Claude connects to Catena through a custom [MCP connector](https://docs.catena.com/connect/mcp.md) (MCP
stands for Model Context Protocol). The connector acts as one agent in your
organization. It can read balances, transactions, counterparties, and intents,
and it can submit payments, as far as that agent's [policy](https://docs.catena.com/policies.md) allows.

In Claude Desktop, we recommend Claude Cowork, because Claude chat does not
support Catena's payment tools (such as send and transfer).

If you'd like to use Claude Code instead, which runs in a terminal and connects
with the CLI, see [Claude Code](https://docs.catena.com/integrations/claude-code.md).

## Requirements

You'll need the operator or admin role in the Catena organization the connector
will act in.

## Connect Claude

1. In Claude, click **Customize**, then select **Connectors**.
2. Select **Add custom connector**.
3. Enter the name `Catena` and our server URL:

   ```text
   https://api.catena.com/mcp
   ```

4. Click **Connect**. Sign in to Catena, then choose the organization (live or
   sandbox) and the agent the connector acts as.

## Test the connection

To check that everything is working, ask Claude: "Which Catena agent are you,
and what can you do?" Claude will call `whoami` and `get_policy` to answer.

## Limitations

There are a few things to keep in mind when you use the connector:

- The connector holds no signing key, so every payment will wait for an admin,
  who approves and signs it in the console. See [Approvals](https://docs.catena.com/approvals.md).
- The connector cannot pay x402 or MPP endpoints. For those, we recommend
  [Claude Code](https://docs.catena.com/integrations/claude-code.md) with the CLI.
- Claude can ask you to confirm before it calls a tool. That confirmation comes
  from Claude and is separate from Catena approvals.

## Disconnect

To disconnect, ask Claude to run the `unlink` tool. Alternatively, you can
remove the connector under **Customize** then **Connectors**, and unlink the
agent in the Catena console.

## Related

- [Link with the MCP](https://docs.catena.com/connect/mcp.md): Apps with custom connectors, such as Claude and ChatGPT, can act as a Catena agent through our remote MCP server.
- [Handle approvals](https://docs.catena.com/approvals.md): Learn what goes to the approvals queue, who can approve, when requests expire, and what happens between an approval and a completed payment.
- [Claude Code](https://docs.catena.com/integrations/claude-code.md): Connect Claude Code to Catena with the CLI, and it will read accounts and make payments under the agent's policy.