SKALE CLI is a command-line tool for reading chain data, preparing transactions, checking balances, and working with BITE. Every command can return structured JSON for scripting and agent workflows.
Installation
Install it globally, or run it without installing via npx or bunx.
# npm
npm install -g @skalenetwork/cli
# yarn
yarn global add @skalenetwork/cli
# pnpm
pnpm add -g @skalenetwork/cli
# Bun
bun install -g @skalenetwork/cli
Run Without Installing
# Using npx
npx @skalenetwork/cli <command>
# Using bunx
bunx @skalenetwork/cli <command>
Quick Start
# List available SKALE chains
skale chains list
# Read contract data
skale read configController version --chain europa
# Check SKL token balance
skale token balance 0xAb5801a7D398351b8bE11C439e05C5B3259aeC9B
# Get gas price
skale gas price --chain skale-base
AI Agent Support
If you are calling the CLI from a script, agent, or automation job, these features matter most:
| Feature | Description |
|---|
| Structured JSON Output | Commands can return JSON that is easy to parse |
| MCP Compatible | Works with Model Context Protocol and similar agent setups |
| Deterministic Responses | Output stays consistent across repeated calls |
| No Interactive Prompts | Inputs are passed through flags and arguments |
JSON Output Examples
# List chains as JSON
skale chains list --format json
# Check balance with JSON output
skale token balance 0x... --format json
# Read contract data
skale read configController version --chain skale-base --format json
Command Reference
The sections below cover the main command groups. For flags and edge cases, use --help on any command.
Chain Management (chains)
List supported chains, aggregate balances, and compare addresses across networks.
# List all supported chains
skale chains list
skale chains list --network skale
skale chains list --status
# Aggregate token balances across chains
skale chains portfolio 0xAb5801a7D398351b8bE11C439e05C5B3259aeC9B
skale chains portfolio 0x... --chains skale-base,titan
skale chains portfolio 0x... --token 0x... --value-in USD
# Compare address balance across chains
skale chains compare 0x... --chains skale-base,titan,mainnet
skale chains compare 0x... --format table
Contract Reading (read)
Call read-only contract methods on SKALE or Ethereum.
# SKALE chain
skale read configController version --chain skale-base
skale read configController isAddressWhitelisted 0x... --chain skale-base
# Ethereum mainnet
skale read sklToken totalSupply --network mainnet
skale read sklToken balanceOf 0x... --network mainnet
- SKALE chains:
configController, messageProxyForSchain, tokenManagerERC20
- Ethereum:
messageProxy, sklToken
SKL Token (token)
Check SKL token details and balances.
# Get SKL token info
skale token info
skale token info --network mainnet
# Get SKL token balance
skale token balance 0xAb5801a7D398351b8bE11C439e05C5B3259aeC9B
Access Control (access)
Check whitelist status and access control settings.
skale access 0x... --chain skale-base
IMA Bridge (ima)
Use IMA bridge-related commands.
# Get chain ID from MessageProxy
skale ima chain-id --chain skale-base
skale ima chain-id --network mainnet
# Check if chain is connected
skale ima connected-chains --chain skale-base --check-chain mainnet
# Get deposit information
skale ima deposit --chain skale-base --network mainnet --token 0x...
# Get withdraw information
skale ima withdraw --chain skale-base --token 0x...
SKALE Manager (manager)
Read SKALE Manager contract settings.
# Get ConfigController version
skale manager version --chain skale-base
# Check if Multi-Transaction Mode is enabled
skale manager mtm-status --chain skale-base
# Check if Free Contract Deployment is enabled
skale manager fcd-status --chain skale-base
BITE Encryption (bite)
Use these commands to encrypt transactions and messages with BITE. They are available on skale-base, skale-base-sepolia, and skale-bite-sandbox.
# Encrypt a transaction
skale bite encrypt-tx --chain skale-base --to 0x... --data 0x...
# Decrypt transaction data from tx hash
skale bite decrypt-tx --chain skale-base --txhash 0x...
# Encrypt a message
skale bite encrypt-msg --chain skale-base --message "Hello World"
# Get BITE protocol info
skale bite info --chain skale-base
Transaction Preparation (txprep)
Encode calldata and prepare transaction data.
# Generate calldata for contract method
skale txprep encode 'transfer(address,uint256)' '0x...,100'
# Get function selector
skale txprep selector 'transfer(address,uint256)'
# Encode parameters
skale txprep encode-param address 0x...
skale txprep encode-param uint256 1000
skale txprep encode-param string 'hello world'
# Build unsigned transaction
skale txprep build-tx 0x... 100 --eth
skale txprep build-tx 0x... 1000000000000000000 --chain calypso --data 0xa9059cbb...
Wallet Operations (wallet)
Use wallet and address utilities.
# Get ETH or token balance
skale wallet balance 0x... --chain skale-base
skale wallet balance 0x... --network mainnet --token 0x...
# Validate Ethereum address format
skale wallet validate 0xAb5801a7D398351b8bE11C439e05C5B3259aeC9B
# Resolve ENS name to address
skale wallet ens vitalik.eth
# Generate address from private key
skale wallet address 0x...privateKey...
# Get explorer URL for address
skale wallet explorer 0x... --chain skale-base
Gas (gas)
Check gas prices and estimates.
skale gas price --chain skale-base
skale gas estimate --to 0x... --value 1 --eth --chain skale-base
skale gas history --network mainnet
skale gas simulate --to 0x... --value 1000000000000000000 --chain skale-base
Explorer (explorer)
Open addresses, transactions, contracts, or blocks in the SKALE Explorer.
skale explorer address 0x... --chain skale-base
skale explorer tx 0x... --chain skale-base
skale explorer block 12345 --chain skale-base
skale explorer contract 0x... --chain skale-base
Contract (contract)
Inspect smart contracts.
# Check contract source code information
skale contract source 0x... --chain skale-base
# Check ERC standard compliance (ERC20, ERC721, ERC165)
skale contract standards 0x... --chain skale-base
# Get contract interface details (read/write functions, ABI)
skale contract interface 0x... --chain skale-base
Global Options
All commands support these global options:
| Option | Description |
|---|
--help, -h | Show help for the command |
--version, -v | Show CLI version |
--format | Output format: json, text, table (default: text) |
--chain | SKALE chain name |
--network | Ethereum network: mainnet, sepolia |
- text: Human-readable output (default)
- json: Structured JSON for programmatic use
- table: Tabular format for easy reading
Example:
skale chains list --format json
skale chains portfolio 0x... --format table
GitHub Repository
skalenetwork/skale-cli