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
/workso files likepparams.json,tx.body,datum.jsonwork normally. - If you have a local node socket, set
CARDANO_NODE_SOCKET_PATHbefore running soquerycommands work. - Override the image with
CARDANO_DOCKER_IMAGE=ghcr.io/intersectmbo/cardano-node:<tag>.
Workflow
-
Identify network
- Ask for mainnet or preprod/preview and magic number
- Determine CLI style (era-prefixed vs legacy) via doctor
-
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 -
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 -
Provide UTxO query template
cardano-cli conway query utxo \ --address $(cat base.addr) \ --testnet-magic 1 -
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
.skeycontents 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