Alpaca

Alpaca operates developer-first APIs for trading stocks, options, and cryptocurrencies. Its Trading API supports algorithmic trading with backtesting, margin, and short-selling functionality, while its Broker API is a white-label platform that lets other fintech companies embed trading features directly into their own applications.

The Alpaca MCP Server lets trades be triggered through natural language instead of traditional code: AI agents can place orders or query market data through it, connected to the same infrastructure as Alpaca's standard APIs.

Alpaca is a self-clearing broker and a member of DTCC, FICC, and OCC, is FINRA-regulated, and carries SIPC protection; its crypto trading subsidiary, Alpaca Crypto LLC, is registered with FinCEN. The company was co-founded by Yoshi Yokokawa and has raised around $320 million from investors including Y Combinator, Spark Capital, and SBI Holdings. Its target customers include algorithmic traders, fintech startups, robo-advisors, and crypto exchanges.

Alpaca holds ISO 27001 and SOC 2 Type II certifications for information security, and beyond standard trading also offers securities lending as an additional revenue stream for customers. For fintech companies that don't want to build their own broker license, Alpaca's Broker API handles the regulatory and operational work behind the scenes.

Alpaca was founded in 2015 and was among the first providers to offer commission-free stock trading through a pure API rather than a graphical trading interface — an approach that has since been adopted by more established brokers as well.