---
name: getting-started-on-ink
description: Set up and orient an agent wallet on Ink — create or load a wallet, check ETH gas and token balances, and acquire ETH/USDT0 to start transacting. Use this first, before any other Ink skill, whenever an agent has no wallet, no gas, or is unsure of its onchain state. Triggers include "set up a wallet", "do I have a wallet", "check my balance", "fund my wallet", "get started on Ink".
license: MIT
metadata:
  author: sergio-inkfnd
  version: "1.0.0"
  homepage: "https://github.com/mavrkofficial/inkonchain-mcp"
  network: "Ink mainnet (chain 57073)"
credentials:
  - name: EVM wallet key
    description: "EVM private key in the OS keychain (set via `npx inkonchain-mcp-setup`) or the EVM_PRIVATE_KEY env var. Required for write operations; read-only tools work without it."
    required: false
    storage: keychain
requires:
  mcp: inkonchain
  tools: [wallet_address, wallet_create, erc20_balance, relay_execute]
  env: []
---

# Getting started on Ink

The foundation skill: get a funded, working wallet on Ink (chain ID `57073`) so every other skill can run.

## Prerequisites

- The `inkonchain` MCP server configured in your client.
- Either a stored key (`npx inkonchain-mcp-setup`) **or** willingness to generate a fresh one with `wallet_create`.

## Tools used

- `wallet_address` — return the configured wallet address + native ETH balance.
- `wallet_create` — generate a fresh EVM wallet, store the key in the OS keychain.
- `erc20_balance` — check any token balance (use the zero address for native ETH).
- `relay_execute` — bring funds onto Ink from another chain, or swap ETH ↔ USDT0.

## Steps

### 1. Do I already have a wallet?

Call `wallet_address`.
- If it returns an address + balance → you have a wallet. Note the ETH balance.
- If it errors with "No EVM private key found" → create one (step 2).

### 2. Create a wallet (only if needed)

Call `wallet_create`. This generates a new EVM keypair and stores the private key in your OS keychain. It refuses to overwrite an existing key unless you pass `overwrite: true`.

> The same address works on every EVM chain (Ink, Base, Arbitrum, Ethereum, …) because the address is derived deterministically from the key. That matters for bridging in step 4.

### 3. Check balances

- Native ETH (for gas): `erc20_balance({ token: "0x0000000000000000000000000000000000000000" })`
- USDT0 (the agent-market base asset): `erc20_balance({ token: "0x0200c29006150606b650577bbe7b6248f58470c1" })`

You need a small amount of **ETH for gas** to do anything that isn't gas-sponsored.

### 4. Fund the wallet

If ETH is `0`, you must get ETH onto Ink. Options:

- **Bridge from another chain** you already hold funds on — see the `bridge-with-relay` skill. Example: bridge Base ETH → Ink ETH with `relay_execute`.
- **Swap on Ink** once you have some ETH: use `relay_execute` (good for ETH ↔ USDT0 where Tsunami liquidity is thin) or the `trade-on-tsunami` skill.

## Worked example — check wallet, then fund if empty

Field values are illustrative; field names match the real tool output.

1. **Who am I / do I have gas?**
   `wallet_address()`
   → `{ "address": "0xA11ce…", "nativeBalanceWei": "0", "nativeBalanceEth": 0 }`
   (Errors with `"No EVM private key found"` if no wallet exists → create one.)

2. **Create a wallet (only if needed)**
   `wallet_create()`
   → `{ "created": true, "address": "0xA11ce…" }`

3. **Check the agent base asset** (USDT0, 6 decimals)
   `erc20_balance({ token: "0x0200c29006150606b650577bbe7b6248f58470c1" })`
   → `{ "balance": "0", "decimals": 6, "symbol": "USDT0", "formatted": "0", "owner": "0xA11ce…" }`

4. **Fund Ink with 0.01 ETH from Base** (origin must already hold ETH + gas; zero address = native ETH)
   `relay_execute({ originChainId: 8453, destinationChainId: 57073, originCurrency: "0x0000000000000000000000000000000000000000", destinationCurrency: "0x0000000000000000000000000000000000000000", amount: "10000000000000000", slippageBps: 100 })`
   → `{ "success": true, "requestId": "0x…", "txs": [{ "chainId": 8453, "hash": "0x…", "status": "success" }], "explorer": "https://explorer.inkonchain.com/tx/0x…" }`

## Gotchas

- **Decimals**: ETH is 18 decimals, USDT0/USDC are 6. `erc20_balance` returns raw + formatted; always read the formatted value when reasoning about "how much".
- **Gas**: keep a buffer of native ETH. Even gas-sponsored flows (x402) still benefit from a tiny ETH balance for fallbacks.
- **One key, many chains**: never assume "I'm on Ink" — `relay_execute` can sign on other chains with the same key. Double-check `originChainId`.

## Done when

`wallet_address` returns a non-zero ETH balance and `erc20_balance` shows the assets you intend to use.