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Getting Started

This page gives you the mental model of how Mintlayer software fits together, and walks you through your first steps: installing, running a node, and setting up a wallet.

Node vs. wallet​

Mintlayer separates chain infrastructure from key management. There are two kinds of software, and it helps to be clear about which one you are running:

In the Node vs. wallet comparison, "Needs the other" cuts both ways for the wallet: wallet-cli either runs its wallet RPC server embedded (the default, talking to the node directly), or acts as a client of a separate wallet-rpc-daemon when you point it at one (the recommended setup for staking in the background).

NodeWallet
Executablenode-daemonwallet-cli or wallet-rpc-daemon
What it doesConnects to the P2P network, syncs and validates the full blockchain, exposes a node RPC interface for chain queries and transaction submissionManages seed phrases, accounts, and keys; creates, signs, and sends transactions; handles staking
Holds funds?No, the node never holds keys or balancesYes, all key material stays on your machine
Needs the other?Runs standaloneNeeds a connection to a node for chain state

For end users, the Mojito Wallet is the recommended option: a non-custodial wallet available as a mobile app (iOS and Android) and as a browser extension. Developers and operators have two more flavors: wallet-cli is an interactive command-line application, while the wallet-rpc-daemon is a headless wallet exposing a JSON-RPC 2.0 interface, wallet-cli can also be used as a client for the daemon, which is the recommended setup for staking in the background. For a graphical server-side interface, the one-command installer additionally deploys a web wallet UI on top of a node and wallet daemon.

1. Install​

Pick one of the installation methods:

  • One-command installer, full stack (node + wallet daemon + web interface) in Docker. Easiest way to a running system. (Experimental)
  • Binaries, pre-built executables.
  • Docker, individual containerized services.
  • From source, build the latest code yourself (advanced).

2. Run a node​

Start the node daemon attached to mainnet:

node-daemon mainnet

The node connects to peers and synchronizes the full blockchain automatically. While it syncs, it exposes its RPC interface (by default on 127.0.0.1:3030) and authenticates local clients with an automatically generated .cookie file, the wallet uses this to talk to the node, so no manual RPC configuration is needed for a default local setup.

3. Set up a wallet​

In a second terminal, start the interactive wallet:

wallet-cli mainnet

You will be guided through the initial setup. The essential flow:

  1. createwallet, generate a new wallet (write down the seed phrase; there is no recovery without it)
  2. account-create, create an account
  3. address-new, generate a receive address
  4. address-show, list your addresses

Full command documentation lives in the Wallet CLI reference; every command also has its own page in that section.

4. What next?​