# Open a customer's wallet > The wallets.create operation: POST /api/v1/wallets in the REST API and the wallets_create tool in the MCP server. Returns the customer's wallet in a currency, opening it when it doesn't exist yet: a customer has one wallet per currency in each brand and mode (spec §17.1). Top-ups, credit packs and subscription credits open the wallet themselves; open it here to grant credits (`credit_grants.create`) before the customer has bought any. Calling it again returns the same wallet, whatever its status. ## At a glance - **REST:** `POST /api/v1/wallets` - **MCP tool:** `wallets_create` - **Operation ID:** `wallets.create` - **Scope:** Brand - **Permission:** `wallets:write` - **Risk tier:** `write` - **Dry run:** Supported (send `Ownrecord-Dry-Run: true`) - **Idempotency:** `Idempotency-Key` required - **Modes:** Test and live - **Plan feature:** `usage_billing.enabled` - **Authentication:** API key with the `wallets:write` scope - **Since:** M6 ## Request ### Body A JSON object (`Content-Type: application/json`): | Field | Type | Required | Description | | ------------ | ---------- | -------- | ------------------------------------------------------------- | | `customerId` | `cus_…` ID | Yes | The customer (`cus_…`) of the brand. | | `currency` | string | Yes | The wallet's currency (one wallet per customer and currency). | ## Response `201 Created` with a JSON object: | Field | Type | Description | | ------------------------------ | --------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | `id` | `wal_…` ID | | | `object` | `"wallet"` | | | `brandId` | `brd_…` ID | | | `livemode` | boolean | | | `customerId` | `cus_…` ID | | | `currency` | string | | | `status` | one of `active`, `frozen`, `closed` | `active`, `frozen` (no new reservations or leases) or `closed` (retired; reopened by a purchase). | | `statusReason` | string or null | Why the wallet is frozen or closed. | | `statusChangedAt` | date-time or null | | | `available` | money | Spendable purchased, subscription and adjustment credits (not reserved). Expired credits stay here until the hourly expiry job takes them out. | | `promo` | money | Spendable promo credits (spent first; never refundable). | | `reserved` | money | Held by open reservations and leases. | | `balance` | money | All unspent credits: `available + promo + reserved`. | | `lowBalanceThreshold` | money or null | | | `lowBalance` | boolean | The balance is below `lowBalanceThreshold`. | | `autoReload` | object or null | | | `upcomingExpiries` | array of object | The next grants to expire (at most 10), soonest first. | | `upcomingExpiries[].grantId` | `grant_…` ID | | | `upcomingExpiries[].source` | one of `purchase`, `subscription`, `promo`, `adjustment`, `refund_reversal` | | | `upcomingExpiries[].remaining` | money | What is left of the grant; whatever is unused at `expiresAt` expires. | | `upcomingExpiries[].expiresAt` | date-time | | | `createdAt` | date-time | | | `updatedAt` | date-time | | ## Examples ### Open a customer's EUR wallet ```http POST /api/v1/wallets Authorization: Bearer or_test_… Idempotency-Key: 3f1c9a52-7d0e-4b8f-9a61-0c2d5e8b7f14 Content-Type: application/json { "customerId": "cus_01m4ty3c2b5qx7mhd9k8w6s0aa", "currency": "EUR" } ``` Response (`201`): ```json { "id": "wal_01m4ty7w2a5qx7mhd9k8w6s0b1", "object": "wallet", "brandId": "brd_01m4tx5nj8emwbyf7y9vcf47x4", "livemode": false, "customerId": "cus_01m4ty3c2b5qx7mhd9k8w6s0aa", "currency": "EUR", "status": "active", "statusReason": null, "statusChangedAt": null, "available": { "amount": "0", "currency": "EUR" }, "promo": { "amount": "0", "currency": "EUR" }, "reserved": { "amount": "0", "currency": "EUR" }, "balance": { "amount": "0", "currency": "EUR" }, "lowBalanceThreshold": null, "lowBalance": false, "autoReload": null, "createdAt": "2026-10-14T09:00:00.000Z", "updatedAt": "2026-10-16T10:15:00.000Z", "upcomingExpiries": [] } ``` ## Errors | Code | HTTP status | When | What to do | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | [`validation_failed`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#validation_failed) | 400 | `customerId` or `currency` is missing or malformed. | Fix the fields listed in `details.issues` and send the request again. | | [`resource_not_found`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#resource_not_found) | 404 | This brand has no such customer in this mode. | Check the ID and that your credentials are scoped to the right organization, entity, brand and mode. | | [`customer_deleted`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#customer_deleted) | 400 | The customer was deleted. | Create a new customer for this buyer. Deleted customers stay readable for the records they belong to, but can't be changed. | | [`version_conflict`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#version_conflict) | 409 | The wallet changed at the same moment (another reservation, capture or grant); retry. | Fetch the object again and retry the change. | | [`scope_required`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#scope_required) | 400 | The request names no brand (an org or entity key without `Ownrecord-Brand`). | Call the operation with credentials or a target at its level: an organization, a legal entity, a brand or the platform (`details.required_scope`). | | [`permission_denied`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#permission_denied) | 403 | You can't change this brand's wallets (`wallets:write`: owners, admins and support). | Ask an organization owner or admin for a role or scope that allows this action. | | [`livemode_not_allowed`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#livemode_not_allowed) | 403 | You have no live-mode access, so you can't use live wallets. | Use test mode, or credentials for the target's mode. Developers need live access granted by an organization owner or admin. | | [`entitlement_required`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#entitlement_required) | 403 | The organization's plan doesn't include usage billing (`usage_billing.enabled`). | Upgrade the organization's plan, or remove something to get back under the limit. | It can also return these [common errors](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference.md#common-errors): [`api_version_unsupported`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#api_version_unsupported), [`invalid_json`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#invalid_json), [`unsupported_media_type`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#unsupported_media_type), [`authentication_required`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#authentication_required), [`api_key_invalid`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#api_key_invalid), [`idempotency_key_required`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#idempotency_key_required), [`idempotency_key_reused`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#idempotency_key_reused), [`idempotency_in_progress`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#idempotency_in_progress), [`approval_required`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#approval_required), [`approval_rejected`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#approval_rejected), [`approval_expired`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#approval_expired), [`stale_approval`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#stale_approval), [`approval_policy_denied`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#approval_policy_denied), [`rate_limited`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#rate_limited), [`internal_error`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#internal_error).