Stakepool Key Generation

As discussed earlier, we are not following production best-practices and will be creating and holding keys typically created offline for learning purposes.

We have already created and funded our addresses capable of both staking and payment in previous steps so we will now create pool specific keys.

All keys, files, transactions, registrations etc. will take place on your block producing node.

Let's create a directory for pool keys and files.

mkdir ~/preprodnet/pool

It's time to make the Cold Keys. These are the "Keys to the Kingdom" so to speak. The controller of these keys controls the pool.

cd ~/preprodnet/pool

cardano-cli node key-gen \
--cold-verification-key-file cold.vkey \
--cold-signing-key-file cold.skey \
--operational-certificate-issue-counter-file opcert.counter

Then let's make our KES keys.

cardano-cli node key-gen-KES \
--verification-key-file kes.vkey \
--signing-key-file kes.skey

Next is VRF keys.

cardano-cli node key-gen-VRF \
--verification-key-file vrf.vkey \
--signing-key-file vrf.skey