diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
index 590702c..cf7cfc7 100644
--- a/.env.example
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -1,3 +1,12 @@
-# No API keys are required for the default setup.
+# Optional: CoinGecko API key (server-side only).
+# Preferred:
+# COINGECKO_PRO_API_KEY=
+# or
+# COINGECKO_DEMO_API_KEY=
+#
+# Fallback generic option:
+# COINGECKO_API_KEY=
+# COINGECKO_API_KEY_TYPE=demo  # demo | pro
+#
 # Optional: override the internal API route base when deploying behind a proxy.
 # NEXT_PUBLIC_API_BASE_URL=
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index b8a821c..6520aa3 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -118,7 +118,22 @@ npm run sync:crypto-icons
 
 ## Environment Variables
 
-No API keys are required.
+CoinGecko key is optional but recommended to reduce rate-limit issues.
+
+Preferred server-side variables:
+
+```env
+COINGECKO_PRO_API_KEY=
+# or
+COINGECKO_DEMO_API_KEY=
+```
+
+Fallback generic option:
+
+```env
+COINGECKO_API_KEY=
+COINGECKO_API_KEY_TYPE=demo  # demo | pro
+```
 
 Optional variable (only if you want to call API routes through a custom base URL):
 
diff --git a/components/converter/converter-card.tsx b/components/converter/converter-card.tsx
index 54c6a32..b5f0767 100644
--- a/components/converter/converter-card.tsx
+++ b/components/converter/converter-card.tsx
@@ -222,7 +222,25 @@ export function ConverterCard({
             variant="outline"
             className="border-border/70 bg-background/50"
           >
-            Rates: {data.sources.fiat} • {data.sources.crypto}
+            <span className="text-muted-foreground">Fiat rates by</span>
+            <a
+              href="https://frankfurter.dev/"
+              target="_blank"
+              rel="noreferrer"
+              className="ml-1 text-foreground transition-colors hover:text-cyan-100"
+            >
+              {data.sources.fiat}
+            </a>
+            <span className="mx-1 text-muted-foreground">•</span>
+            <span className="text-muted-foreground">Price data by</span>
+            <a
+              href="https://www.coingecko.com/"
+              target="_blank"
+              rel="noreferrer"
+              className="ml-1 text-foreground transition-colors hover:text-cyan-100"
+            >
+              {data.sources.crypto}
+            </a>
           </Badge>
         </div>
         <CardDescription className="pr-1 text-base/7 sm:text-sm">
diff --git a/lib/api/crypto.ts b/lib/api/crypto.ts
index 235fffa..d3bd09a 100644
--- a/lib/api/crypto.ts
+++ b/lib/api/crypto.ts
@@ -7,6 +7,38 @@ export interface CryptoRateResult {
 
 const COINGECKO_BASE_URL = "https://api.coingecko.com/api/v3";
 
+function buildCoinGeckoHeaders(): HeadersInit {
+  const headers: Record<string, string> = {
+    accept: "application/json"
+  };
+
+  const proApiKey = process.env.COINGECKO_PRO_API_KEY?.trim();
+  const demoApiKey = process.env.COINGECKO_DEMO_API_KEY?.trim();
+  const genericApiKey = process.env.COINGECKO_API_KEY?.trim();
+  const genericApiKeyType =
+    process.env.COINGECKO_API_KEY_TYPE?.trim().toLowerCase() ?? "demo";
+
+  if (proApiKey) {
+    headers["x-cg-pro-api-key"] = proApiKey;
+    return headers;
+  }
+
+  if (demoApiKey) {
+    headers["x-cg-demo-api-key"] = demoApiKey;
+    return headers;
+  }
+
+  if (genericApiKey) {
+    if (genericApiKeyType === "pro") {
+      headers["x-cg-pro-api-key"] = genericApiKey;
+    } else {
+      headers["x-cg-demo-api-key"] = genericApiKey;
+    }
+  }
+
+  return headers;
+}
+
 export async function fetchCryptoData(): Promise<CryptoRateResult> {
   const ids = CRYPTO_ASSETS.map((asset) => asset.providerId).filter(
     (id): id is string => Boolean(id)
@@ -18,9 +50,7 @@ export async function fetchCryptoData(): Promise<CryptoRateResult> {
 
   const response = await fetch(url, {
     next: { revalidate: 60 },
-    headers: {
-      accept: "application/json"
-    }
+    headers: buildCoinGeckoHeaders()
   });
 
   if (!response.ok) {