GatewayIntroduction

Tangle Gateway

Tangle Gateway is a unified inference API. One endpoint, hundreds of models, automatic routing across centralized providers and decentralized operators.

What it does

  • One key, any model. Access OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Groq, Mistral, and 20+ providers through a single API key.
  • Operator network. Route to decentralized operators running Blueprints on the Tangle network who compete on price, latency, and reputation.
  • Compliance routing. Zero Data Retention and no-train filtering with verified provider agreements.
  • BYOK. Bring your own provider keys for zero-markup access.
  • On-chain payments. Pay operators directly via SpendAuth — no credit card required.

Quick example

curl -X POST "https://router.tangle.tools/v1/chat/completions" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $TANGLE_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "model": "anthropic/claude-sonnet-4-6",
    "messages": [{"role": "user", "content": "Hello"}],
    "stream": true
  }'

Works with any OpenAI-compatible SDK. Change the base URL and you’re done.

Architecture

The gateway routes through three tiers, in order:

TierWhatWhen
OperatorsDecentralized inference providers on TangleDefault for operator-pinned requests and SpendAuth
LiteLLMProxy with 100+ provider integrations and built-in retriesDefault for standard requests
DirectStraight to provider API (OpenAI, Anthropic, etc.)Fallback when LiteLLM unavailable, or when compliance required

When Zero Data Retention or no-train is requested, operators and LiteLLM are skipped — the gateway routes directly to verified providers only.

How it fits

Workbench (agents) → Gateway (inference) → Operators (serving) → Protocol (settlement)

The gateway sits between the Workbench where agents run and the Protocol where operators get paid. Agents in the workbench call the gateway for model access. The gateway selects the best provider or operator, routes the request, tracks usage, and settles payment.

Next steps

Getting Started