🥬Cardano stake pool key generation for MacOs (with Hardware Wallet)

1. Getting ready

For this guide to work, you will need a computer running the latest MacOs and we will be using the terminal (Terminal.app) to execute commands.

1.1 Create a "cardano" directory where to store the executable files and keys

open the terminal app and execute the below commands to complete this guide.

mkdir -p cardano
cd cardano

1.2 downloading Cardano Wallet CLI

curl -L https://github.com/input-output-hk/cardano-wallet/releases/download/v2022-12-14/cardano-wallet-v2022-12-14-macos-intel.tar.gz --output cardano-wallet-v2022-12-14-macos-intel.tar.gz 

1.2.1 extracting files

tar -zxvf cardano-wallet-v2022-12-14-macos-intel.tar.gz 

1.2.3 checking the files

cd cardano-wallet-v2022-12-14-macos-intel && ls

1.3 downloading Cardano Hardware Wallet CLI

curl -L https://github.com/vacuumlabs/cardano-hw-cli/releases/download/v1.13.0/cardano-hw-cli-1.13.0_mac-x64.tar.gz --output cardano-hw-cli-1.13.0_mac-x64.tar.gz

1.3.1 extracting files

tar -zxvf cardano-hw-cli-1.13.0_mac-x64.tar.gz

2. Generating pool keys

2.1 creating "keys" folder for the keys

cd ..
mkdir -p keys
cd keys

2.1 creating staking keys

../cardano-wallet-v2022-12-14-macos-intel/cardano-cli stake-address key-gen --verification-key-file pool.staking.vkey --signing-key-file pool.staking.skey
ls -al

you should see the following files in the folder

2.2 Generating payment verification keys from Hardware Wallet

Before continuing - connect your ledger/trezor device and launch cardano app

../cardano-wallet-v2022-12-14-macos-intel/cardano-hw-cli/cardano-hw-cli  address key-gen --path 1852H/1815H/0H/0/0 --verification-key-file pool.payment.vkey --hw-signing-file pool.payment.hwsfile

approve the export of PUBLIC keys on your Ledger device:

The result should be 2 new files

2.3. Building a Payment (pledge) address (from payment and staking public keys)

../cardano-wallet-v2022-12-14-macos-intel/cardano-cli address build --payment-verification-key-file pool.payment.vkey --staking-verification-key-file pool.staking.vkey  --mainnet > pool.payment.addr
ls -al

2.4. Building a stake Address

../cardano-wallet-v2022-12-14-macos-intel/cardano-cli stake-address build --staking-verification-key-file pool.staking.vkey  --mainnet > pool.staking.addr
ls -al

2.5 Create the staking registration certificate

../cardano-wallet-v2022-12-14-macos-intel/cardano-cli stake-address registration-certificate --staking-verification-key-file pool.staking.vkey --out-file pool.staking.cert
ls -al

2.6 Check the pledge address (Where you will be sending your pledge)

cat pool.payment.addr

3. Testing generated addresses and pledging

After you have generated the keys, let's test if everything works fine by adding the account to Daedalus Wallet

3.1. Pair your Ledger/Trezor device

Daedalus

eternl.io

3.2. Testing the pledge address visibility in Daedalus / Yoroi

3.2.1. Send a test amount (~5 ADA) to the address which you got on previous steps when you generated the pledge wallet keys

3.2.2. When you have received the test ADA - try to send back the 5 ADA to your main wallet.

3.2.3. Wait till the ADA arrives at the Daedalus wallet - if you received it, then everything is set up correctly and you can proceed with sending the rest of the pledge to that address.

4. Sending keys:

This step is only for people who are using StakePool247 Stake Pool outsourcing service!

For us to generate the necessary keys and to be able to automatically send you the rewards we will need the following files:

• pool.payment.addr - payment/pledge address

• pool.payment.vkey - payment/pledge public key (pledge wallet's secret key always stays in your hardware wallet device)

• pool.staking.addr - pool's staking address, where rewards will be sent

• pool.staking.vkey - pool's staking public key

• pool.staking.skey - pool's staking secret key - we will automatically withdraw rewards and send your part to your identified Cardano address (which you submitted in the google spreadsheet)