---
updatedAt: 2026-07-15T13:31:44.000Z
---

Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.blockdaemon.com/llms.txt. Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. Append .md to any documentation page URL to get its markdown version.

# How to Connect to Kusama

## How to Access Kusama Credentials

> 📘 Info
>
> If you haven't configured a node, learn how to deploy one [here](https://docs.blockdaemon.com/docs/how-to-deploy-a-node).

1. Log into the [Blockdaemon app](https://app.blockdaemon.com/).
2. Select **Nodes & RPC** from the sidebar menu
3. Go to the **My Nodes** tab and select the **Kusama** node you want to connect to.
4. Under the **Connect** tab, you’ll find:
   1. Endpoint URL
   2. Auth String
   3. Auth Token

> Please reach out to <support@blockdaemon.com> or your Customer Success Manager for support.

***

## 1. How to Connect via cURL

```curl
curl \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "X-Auth-Token: YOUR_AUTH_TOKEN" \
  -d '{
    "id": 1,
    "jsonrpc": "2.0",
    "method": "RPC_METHOD"
  }' \
  YOUR_ENDPOINT_URL/http-rpc
```

* Replace `YOUR_ENDPOINT_URL` with the Endpoint URL in the [Blockdaemon app](https://app.blockdaemon.com/signin/register).
* Replace `YOUR_AUTH_TOKEN` with the Auth Token in the [Blockdaemon app](https://app.blockdaemon.com/signin/register).
* Replace `RPC_METHOD` with your chosen [RPC method](https://docs.blockdaemon.com/reference/kusama-methods-rpc-api).

***

## 2. How to Connect via WebSocket

You can use the auth token or bearer token in the header for the WebSocket endpoint.

```
wscat -H "X-Auth-Token: YOUR_AUTH_TOKEN" -c wss:YOUR_ENDPOINT_URL/websocket
```

* Replace `YOUR_ENDPOINT_URL` with the Endpoint URL in the [Blockdaemon app](https://app.blockdaemon.com/signin/register).
* Replace `YOUR_AUTH_TOKEN` with the Auth Token in the [Blockdaemon app](https://app.blockdaemon.com/signin/register).

> 📘 Info
>
> **wscat** is a tool that can connect over WebSocket(s) and may need to be installed. You can use your preferred tool of choice.

***

## 3. How to Connect via Sidecar API

> 🚧 Substrate API Sidecar is going to be deprecated
>
> Sidecar is being replaced by the [Polkadot REST API](https://paritytech.github.io/polkadot-rest-api/). The new API is not a drop-in replacement, endpoints now include a `/v1/` prefix and some argument names have changed. See the [migration guide](https://paritytech.github.io/polkadot-rest-api/#guide-migration) to update your integration.

```
curl -X GET \
     -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
     -H 'X-Auth-Token: YOUR_AUTH_TOKEN' \
     'YOUR_ENDPOINT_URL/SIDECAR_METHOD'
```

* Replace `YOUR_ENDPOINT_URL` with the Endpoint URL in the [Blockdaemon app](https://app.blockdaemon.com/signin/register).
* Replace `YOUR_AUTH_TOKEN` with the Auth Token in the [Blockdaemon app](https://app.blockdaemon.com/signin/register).
* Replace `SIDECAR_METHOD` with the [supported substrate sidecar methods](https://docs.blockdaemon.com/reference/supported-substrate-sidecar-methods-kusama).

***

## 4. How to Connect via REST API

Use the [Polkadot REST API](https://paritytech.github.io/polkadot-rest-api/#overview) to call native Kusama REST methods through your Blockdaemon-hosted node.

**Making a request:** Append the REST API method path after your endpoint URL:

```
YOUR_ENDPOINT_URL/rest/v1/YOUR_METHOD
```

**Example** — retrieve the most recently finalized block header:

```curl
curl -X GET \
  'YOUR_ENDPOINT_URL/rest/v1/blocks/head/header' \
  -H 'X-Auth-Token: YOUR_AUTH_TOKEN'
```

* Replace `YOUR_ENDPOINT_URL` with the Endpoint URL in the [Blockdaemon app](https://app.blockdaemon.com/signin/register).
* Replace `YOUR_AUTH_TOKEN` with the Auth Token in the [Blockdaemon app](https://app.blockdaemon.com/signin/register).
* Replace `YOUR_METHOD` with your chosen [Kusama REST API method](https://docs.blockdaemon.com/reference/kusama-rest-methods-rpc-api).

> 📘 Looking for more information?
>
> You'll find plenty of useful resources in the Polkadot section, such as:
>
> * [Consensus Mechanisms](https://docs.blockdaemon.com/docs/polkadots-consensus-mechanisms)
> * [Nominated Proof of Stake (NPoS)](https://docs.blockdaemon.com/docs/polkadot-npos)
>
> Explore more [here](https://docs.blockdaemon.com/docs/blockdaemon-and-polkadot).

## 👋 Need Help?

Contact us through [email](mailto:support@blockdaemon.com) or our [support page](https://www.blockdaemon.com/support) for any issues, bugs, or assistance you may need.