Generating a Wallet

On first installation of pcli, you will need to generate a fresh wallet to use with Penumbra.

The pcli init command will generate a configuration file, depending on the custody backend used to store keys.

There are currently three custody backends:

1. The softkms backend is a good default choice for low-security use cases. It stores keys unencrypted in a local config file.
2. The threshold backend is a good choice for high-security use cases. It provides a shielded multisig, with key material sharded over multiple computers.
3. The view-only backend has no custody at all and only has access to viewing keys.

After running pcli init with one of the backends described above, pcli will be initialized.

Penumbra’s design automatically creates 2^32 (four billion) numbered accounts controlled by your wallet.

To generate the address for a numbered account, use pcli view address:

$ pcli view address 0
penumbrav2t1...

You can also run pcli view address on an address to see which account it corresponds to:

$ pcli view address penumbra1...
Address is viewable with this full viewing key. Account index is 0.

Addresses are opaque and do not reveal account information. Only you, or someone who has your viewing key, can decrypt the account information from the address.

Getting testnet tokens on Discord in the #testnet-faucet channel

In order to use the testnet, it’s first necessary for you to get some testnet tokens. The current way to do this is to join our Discord and post your address in the #testnet-faucet channel. We’ll send your address some tokens on the testnet for you to send to your friends! :)

Just keep in mind: testnet tokens do not have monetary value, and in order to keep the signal-to-noise ratio high on the server, requests for tokens in other channels will be deleted without response. Please do not DM Penumbra Labs employees asking for testnet tokens; the correct venue is the dedicated channel.