---
title: "balance"
description: "Returns the configured operator's account balance in multiple formats including hexadecimal, wei, and GEN units."
source: https://docs.genlayer.com/api-references/genlayer-node/ops/balance
last_updated: 2025-12-19
---

# balance

### balance

Returns the configured operator's account balance in multiple formats including hexadecimal, wei, and GEN units.

**Method:** `GET /balance`

**Parameters:** None

**Returns:** JSON object containing the operator's balance in three formats

**Example Request:**

```bash
curl -X GET http://localhost:9153/balance
```

**Example Response:**

```json
{
  "balance_hex": "0x0de0b6b3a7640000",
  "balance_wei": "1000000000000000000",
  "balance_gen": "1.000"
}
```

**Response Fields:**

- `balance_hex` (string): The balance encoded as hexadecimal with "0x" prefix
- `balance_wei` (string): The balance in wei as a decimal string
- `balance_gen` (string): The balance in GEN units formatted with 3 decimal places

**Notes:**

- This endpoint is only available when the node is running in validator mode
- The balance is always retrieved from the latest block
- The operator address is configured at node startup
- If the operator address is not configured, the zero address (0x0000...0000) is used
- Balance conversions: 1 GEN = 1,000,000,000,000,000,000 wei (10^18 wei)
- Returns HTTP 503 if the node is not in validator mode
- Returns HTTP 500 if there's an error retrieving the balance

**Example Response (Zero Balance):**

```json
{
  "balance_hex": "0x",
  "balance_wei": "0",
  "balance_gen": "0.000"
}
```

**Example Response (Large Balance):**

```json
{
  "balance_hex": "0x3635c9adc5dea00000",
  "balance_wei": "1000000000000000000000",
  "balance_gen": "1000.000"
}
```

**Error Response (Not in Validator Mode):**

```json
{
  "message": "Balance endpoint not available in rollup mode"
}
```

**cURL Example with Headers:**

```bash
curl -X GET http://localhost:9153/balance \
  -H "Accept: application/json" \
  -v
```