Cardano CLI Transactions

cardano-cli-transactions

This is a guidance skill. Provides templates and explanations. For execution, use cardano-cli-transactions-operator.

When to use

• Learning transaction building patterns
• Understanding UTxO selection and change
• Getting command templates for various tx types

Operating rules (must follow)

• Confirm network (mainnet/preprod/preview) before providing commands
• Never execute—only provide templates
• Always include fee handling and change
• Include verification steps

Docker fallback mode

If cardano-cli is not installed locally, use the wrapper script in this skill folder to run cardano-cli inside Docker (the Cardano node container images include the CLI).

chmod +x {baseDir}/scripts/cardano-cli.sh
{baseDir}/scripts/cardano-cli.sh version

Notes:

• The wrapper mounts your current directory into the container as /work so files like pparams.json, tx.body, datum.json work normally.
• If you have a local node socket, set CARDANO_NODE_SOCKET_PATH before running so query commands work.
• Override the image with CARDANO_DOCKER_IMAGE=ghcr.io/intersectmbo/cardano-node:<tag>.

Workflow templates

Simple ADA transfer

# 1. Query sender UTxOs
cardano-cli conway query utxo \
  --address <sender-addr> \
  --testnet-magic 1

# 2. Get protocol parameters
cardano-cli conway query protocol-parameters \
  --testnet-magic 1 \
  --out-file pparams.json

# 3. Build transaction
cardano-cli conway transaction build \
  --testnet-magic 1 \
  --tx-in <utxo-hash>#<index> \
  --tx-out <recipient>+<amount-lovelace> \
  --change-address <sender-addr> \
  --out-file tx.unsigned

# 4. Sign
cardano-cli conway transaction sign \
  --tx-file tx.unsigned \
  --signing-key-file payment.skey \
  --testnet-magic 1 \
  --out-file tx.signed

# 5. Submit
cardano-cli conway transaction submit \
  --testnet-magic 1 \
  --tx-file tx.signed

# 6. Verify
cardano-cli conway transaction txid --tx-file tx.signed

Multi-output transaction

cardano-cli conway transaction build \
  --testnet-magic 1 \
  --tx-in <utxo>#<index> \
  --tx-out <addr1>+<amount1> \
  --tx-out <addr2>+<amount2> \
  --tx-out <addr3>+<amount3> \
  --change-address <sender> \
  --out-file tx.unsigned

With native tokens

cardano-cli conway transaction build \
  --testnet-magic 1 \
  --tx-in <utxo>#<index> \
  --tx-out "<recipient>+<lovelace>+<amount> <policy-id>.<asset-name>" \
  --change-address <sender> \
  --out-file tx.unsigned

With metadata

cardano-cli conway transaction build \
  --testnet-magic 1 \
  --tx-in <utxo>#<index> \
  --tx-out <recipient>+<amount> \
  --change-address <sender> \
  --metadata-json-file metadata.json \
  --out-file tx.unsigned

Examples

Example: Send 10 ADA on preprod

User request: "Send 10 ADA to addr_test1qz..."

Response:

# === Send 10 ADA on Preprod ===

# Setup
SENDER_ADDR="addr_test1..."
RECIPIENT="addr_test1qz..."
AMOUNT=10000000  # 10 ADA in lovelace

# 1. Query UTxOs
cardano-cli conway query utxo \
  --address $SENDER_ADDR \
  --testnet-magic 1

# 2. Build (using first UTxO with sufficient funds)
cardano-cli conway transaction build \
  --testnet-magic 1 \
  --tx-in <paste-utxo-here>#0 \
  --tx-out "$RECIPIENT+$AMOUNT" \
  --change-address $SENDER_ADDR \
  --out-file tx.unsigned

# 3. Sign
cardano-cli conway transaction sign \
  --tx-file tx.unsigned \
  --signing-key-file payment.skey \
  --testnet-magic 1 \
  --out-file tx.signed

# 4. Submit (use operator skill or run manually)
# cardano-cli conway transaction submit --testnet-magic 1 --tx-file tx.signed

Tx bundle folder structure

tx-20240115-143022/
├── pparams.json       # Protocol parameters used
├── tx.unsigned        # Unsigned transaction
├── tx.signed          # Signed transaction
├── utxos.json         # Input UTxOs at build time
└── commands.log       # Commands executed

Safety / key handling

• Never expose signing keys
• Verify recipient address carefully
• On mainnet: small test transfer first
• Keep tx bundle for audit trail

References

• shared/PRINCIPLES.md
• cardano-cli-transactions-operator (for execution)