Cardano CLI Wallets

cardano-cli-wallets

This is a guidance skill. It provides templates and explanations but does not execute commands. For execution, use cardano-cli-wallets-operator.

When to use

• Learning how to create payment/stake keys and addresses
• Understanding wallet structure and UTxO model
• Getting copy-paste command templates

Operating rules (must follow)

• Confirm network (mainnet vs preprod/preview) before providing commands
• Never execute commands—only provide templates
• Include verification steps in every template
• Keep secrets out of examples

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

1. Identify network

   • Ask for mainnet or preprod/preview and magic number
   • Determine CLI style (era-prefixed vs legacy) via doctor

2. Provide key generation template

   # Create wallet directory
   mkdir -p wallet && cd wallet
   
   # Generate payment keys
   cardano-cli conway address key-gen \
     --verification-key-file payment.vkey \
     --signing-key-file payment.skey
   
   # Generate stake keys
   cardano-cli conway stake-address key-gen \
     --verification-key-file stake.vkey \
     --signing-key-file stake.skey
   
   # Secure keys
   chmod 600 *.skey
   

3. Provide address building template

   # Build base address (payment + stake)
   cardano-cli conway address build \
     --payment-verification-key-file payment.vkey \
     --stake-verification-key-file stake.vkey \
     --out-file base.addr \
     --testnet-magic 1  # or --mainnet
   
   # Build enterprise address (payment only)
   cardano-cli conway address build \
     --payment-verification-key-file payment.vkey \
     --out-file enterprise.addr \
     --testnet-magic 1
   

4. Provide UTxO query template

   cardano-cli conway query utxo \
     --address $(cat base.addr) \
     --testnet-magic 1
   

5. Wallet dossier output format

   === Wallet Dossier ===
   Network: preprod (magic 1)
   Base Address: addr_test1...
   Enterprise Address: addr_test1...
   Payment VKey Hash: abc123...
   Stake VKey Hash: def456...
   Files: payment.vkey, payment.skey, stake.vkey, stake.skey
   

Examples

Example: Create preprod wallet

User request: "Create a wallet for preprod testing"

Response:

# === Preprod Wallet Setup ===

# 1. Create directory
mkdir -p ~/cardano/preprod-wallet && cd ~/cardano/preprod-wallet

# 2. Generate payment keypair
cardano-cli conway address key-gen \
  --verification-key-file payment.vkey \
  --signing-key-file payment.skey

# 3. Generate stake keypair
cardano-cli conway stake-address key-gen \
  --verification-key-file stake.vkey \
  --signing-key-file stake.skey

# 4. Build base address
cardano-cli conway address build \
  --payment-verification-key-file payment.vkey \
  --stake-verification-key-file stake.vkey \
  --out-file base.addr \
  --testnet-magic 1

# 5. Secure keys
chmod 600 *.skey

# 6. Display address for funding
echo "Fund this address from faucet:"
cat base.addr

# 7. Verify (after funding)
cardano-cli conway query utxo \
  --address $(cat base.addr) \
  --testnet-magic 1

Safety / key handling

• Never paste .skey contents into chat
• Prefer offline key generation for real funds
• Lock permissions: chmod 600 *.skey
• Avoid cloud sync for key directories

References

• shared/PRINCIPLES.md (repo)
• Cardano Docs: Keys and Addresses