akt Commands Reference

This reference covers the akt command groups and the most common Akash and Cosmos SDK operations.

The chain SDK contributes many additional query and transaction leaves. Run akt <command> --help for the exact command tree and flags in your installed release.

Command Structure

akt <command> <subcommand> [arguments] [flags]

Global Flags:

• --home - Home directory for config, contexts, and keyrings (default: $AKT_HOME or ~/.config/akt)
• --context - Active context name (overrides current-context in config)
• --keyring-backend - Keyring backend for this invocation
• --keyring-dir - Keyring directory for this invocation
• -o, --output - Output format: pretty (default), json, yaml
• -v, --verbose - Increase output verbosity (-v verbose, -vv debug)
• -q, --quiet - Suppress informational output while keeping results and errors

Commands take their primary values positionally, following the Akash resource hierarchy (owner/dseq/gseq/oseq/provider). Defaults for the node, chain ID, gas settings, and signing account come from the active context.

Context Commands

Create Context

Create a new context. A network is required for keyring contexts and optional for a Console-only context.

akt context create <name> --network <network>

Flags:

• --network - Network definition to use
• --auth-method - keyring (default) or console-api
• --default-account - Default signing account
• --set-current - Make this the active context

Example:

akt context create prod --network mainnet --default-account alice --set-current

console-api contexts do not require a keyring or default account. Their API key identifies the Console account and managed wallet. Owner-scoped chain queries still require an explicit owner when no default account is set.

Keyring definitions

Create and manage the named key stores that contexts reference.

# List keyrings
akt context keyring list

# Create a file-backed keyring for a headless host
akt context keyring create headless file

# Change an existing backend
akt context keyring set headless os

The os backend uses the platform credential store. Other supported backends are file, test, kwallet, pass, and memory.

Switch Context

Set the active context.

akt context use <name>

Show Context

Show active context details: resolved network, keyring, store path, and capabilities.

akt context show

Edit Context

Change a context’s settings.

akt context edit <name> [flags]

Example:

akt context edit prod --default-account bob

List, Rename, Delete

# List all contexts
akt context list

# Rename a context (moves its stored credentials)
akt context rename prod production

# Delete a context
akt context delete staging --yes

Action Log

View the per-context log of mutating operations, newest first.

akt context log

Flags:

• --type - Filter by action type (e.g., tx)
• --since - Duration (1h) or timestamp (2026-01-01)
• --limit - Maximum entries to show
• --workflow-id - Show every action for one workflow run

Network Commands

Create Network

Create a network definition from a built-in template or custom values.

akt context network create <name> [flags]

Flags:

• --template - Built-in template: mainnet, testnet, sandbox
• --chain-id - Custom chain ID
• --rpc - Custom RPC endpoint
• --gas-prices - Gas prices (e.g., 0.025uakt)

Example:

# From template
akt context network create mainnet --template mainnet

# Custom network
akt context network create local --chain-id localnet-1 --rpc http://localhost:26657

List, show, edit, and delete networks

# List networks and which contexts use them
akt context network list

# Show full network details
akt context network show mainnet

# Edit a network (affects all contexts using it)
akt context network edit mainnet --gas-prices 0.025uakt

# Delete an unused network
akt context network delete local

The selected network’s gas price is the minimum used for gas-price-derived fees. Lower flag and environment values are raised to the floor, higher values are preserved, and an explicit --fees value remains authoritative.

Key Commands

Add Key

Add a new key or recover an existing one.

akt context keys add <name>

Flags:

• --recover - Import from mnemonic
• --source - Read a mnemonic from a file
• --ledger - Add a Ledger key
• --multisig - Create a multisig from existing key names
• --no-backup - Do not print a generated mnemonic
• --yes, -y - Accepted for Cosmos CLI compatibility; never overwrites a key

Unless you use --no-backup or recover an existing key, save the mnemonic phrase printed after creation. It cannot be shown again.

Show Key

Display key details.

akt context keys show <name>

Flags:

• --address - Print only the bech32 address (useful for scripting)

List, Delete, Rename

# List keys in the current context's keyring
akt context keys list

# Delete a key
akt context keys delete alice

# Rename a key
akt context keys rename alice alice-old

# Generate a BIP39 mnemonic without creating a key
akt context keys mnemonic

Export / Import

# Export a key
akt context keys export alice > alice.key

# Import from an exported keyfile
akt context keys import alice-backup alice.key

Parse Address

Convert an address between hex and bech32 formats.

akt context keys parse akash1abc...

SDL Commands

Every akt sdl subcommand runs entirely locally: no context, no key, no RPC endpoint.

List Scaffolds

List the built-in scaffolds (web, gpu, multi-service, ip-lease) and the flags each honors.

akt sdl scaffolds

Generate an SDL

Print a deployable SDL to stdout, self-checked against the validator.

akt sdl init <scaffold> [flags]

Flags:

• --image - Container image (must carry an explicit tag or digest)
• --cpu, --memory - Compute resources
• --gpu-model - GPU model for the gpu scaffold
• --price - Pricing amount

Example:

akt sdl init web --image nginx:1.27 > deploy.yaml

Validate an SDL

Validate offline; exit 0 when valid, 1 when not. Use - to read stdin.

akt sdl validate deploy.yaml

Workflow Commands

Workflow commands orchestrate the full deployment lifecycle, routing each step through the active context’s auth method (local signing for keyring, Console API for console-api).

Deploy

Create a deployment, wait for bids, select a provider, create the lease, and send the manifest.

akt deploy <sdl-file>

Flags:

• --deposit - auto for the live chain minimum, an explicit chain coin, or an explicit Console USD value such as 5, 5usd, or $5. Console contexts cannot use the default auto value.
• --bid-timeout - Maximum time to wait for bids (default: 5m)
• --bid-select - interactive (default), cheapest, or provider=<addr>
• --ready-timeout - Maximum readiness wait after manifest submission (default: 2m)
• --no-wait-active - Return immediately after manifest submission
• -y, --yes - Skip confirmation prompts
• --dry-run - Show the execution plan without broadcasting

Example:

# Automated deployment for CI/CD: one JSONL line per step
akt deploy deploy.yaml --bid-select cheapest --yes -o jsonl

Update

Update a deployment from a modified SDL file.

akt update <sdl-file> [dseq]

Example:

akt update deploy.yaml 12345

Close

Close a deployment and return the remaining escrow balance.

akt close [dseq]

Example:

akt close 12345

Query Commands

Akash queries use a positional filter argument following the resource hierarchy, with smart type detection (a bech32 address is an owner, a number is a dseq). The q alias is equivalent to query.

Deployments

# List your deployments (owner defaults to context account)
akt query deployment

# Filter positionally: state, dseq, owner, owner/dseq
akt query deployment active
akt query deployment 12345
akt query deployment akash1abc...
akt query deployment akash1abc.../12345

Owner-scoped lists refuse when neither the command nor the context supplies an owner. Paginated deployment queries support --limit, --offset, --page, --page-key, --reverse, and --count-total.

Market (Bids and Leases)

# List active leases (positional state keyword)
akt query market lease active

# Leases for a specific deployment
akt query market lease 12345

# Specific lease (owner from context)
akt query market lease 12345/1/1/akash1prov...

# Provider-perspective query
akt query market lease --by provider akash1prov...

# Bids for a deployment
akt query market bid 12345

# Orders for a deployment
akt query market order 12345

Bank, Staking, Governance

# Check balances
akt query bank balances akash1abc...

# Validators
akt query staking validators

# Governance proposal
akt query gov proposal 42

Providers and Certificates

# Query a provider
akt query provider akash1prov...

# Certificates for an owner
akt query cert list akash1abc...

WASM

# Query a contract
akt query wasm contract-state smart akash1contract... '{"get_count":{}}'

Transaction Commands

All transaction commands accept --from, --gas, --gas-prices, --fees, --broadcast-mode, --yes, --dry-run, and other standard flags. Defaults come from the active context. Gas-price-derived fees cannot fall below the selected network’s configured price; fixed --fees values bypass that calculation.

Deployments

# Create a deployment from an SDL file
akt tx deployment create deployment.yaml

# Update a deployment (positional sdl and dseq)
akt tx deployment update deployment.yaml 12345

# Close a deployment (positional dseq)
akt tx deployment close 12345

Note: These direct chain transaction commands require a keyring signing account. For a managed wallet, use akt deploy, akt update, and akt close, or the matching akt console deployment command.

Deployment Groups

Modify a specific group within a deployment (positional dseq and gseq):

# Pause a deployment group
akt tx deployment group pause 12345 1

# Resume a paused group
akt tx deployment group start 12345 1

# Close a group
akt tx deployment group close 12345 1

Market

# Create a lease (positional dseq and provider; gseq/oseq default to 1)
akt tx market lease create 12345 akash1prov...

Bank, Staking, Governance

# Send tokens
akt tx bank send alice akash1dest... 1000000uakt

# Delegate to a validator
akt tx staking delegate akashvaloper1... 1000000uakt

# Vote on a governance proposal
akt tx gov vote 42 yes

Certificates

# Generate and publish a client certificate
akt tx cert generate client
akt tx cert publish client

Mint & Burn ACT (BME)

Convert between AKT and ACT through the Burn-Mint-Equilibrium module:

# Mint ACT by burning AKT
akt tx bme mint-act 500000uakt

# Burn ACT to mint/remint AKT
akt tx bme burn-act 500000uact

# Generic form: burn tokens to mint another denomination
akt tx bme burn-mint 500000uakt uact

See Mint & Burn ACT for background on when and why to convert.

Console Commands

Commands for the Akash Console managed-wallet API. See Console Integration for setup and workflows.

Authentication

# Validate a Console API key and store it for the active context
akt console login
akt console login <key>

# Remove the stored credential
akt console logout

# Show the authenticated account
akt console whoami

Deployments

akt console deployment list [active|closed] --limit 20 --skip 0
akt console deployment get <dseq>
akt console deployment create <sdl-file> [deposit-usd]
akt console deployment update <dseq> <sdl-file>
akt console deployment deposit <dseq> [amount-usd]
akt console deployment settings <dseq> [true|false]
akt console deployment close <dseq>

USD amounts must use plain decimal notation with no more than two fractional digits and must be at least $0.50. Deployment mutations validate the positive dseq and reject closed resources before sending a write request. A repeated close is an error.

Bids and Leases

# Inspect provider bids
akt console bid list <dseq>

# Accept a bid by creating a lease and sending the manifest
akt console lease create <dseq> [provider]

Wallet and Usage

akt console wallet list
akt console wallet balance
akt console wallet settings [true|false]
akt console wallet cost

# Historical spend and active-deployment counts (positional dates)
akt console usage [from] [to]

Live Lease Operations

# Stream container logs from the lease's provider
akt console logs <dseq> [service] --follow

# Stream Kubernetes events
akt console events <dseq> --follow

# Live lease status from the provider gateway
akt console status <dseq> --watch --interval 30s

# Open a shell or run a command in a lease container
akt console shell <dseq> <service>
akt console shell <dseq> <service> -- ls -la

Explicit commands launched from a terminal detach stdin by default. Piped input attaches automatically; use --stdin to force attachment. JSON and YAML output require an explicit command and return stdout and stderr fields.

Marketplace (No API Key Required)

# Provider catalog
akt console provider list
akt console provider get <provider>
akt console provider regions
akt console provider auditors

# GPU availability and pricing
akt console gpu

# Deployment templates
akt console template list
akt console template get <id>
akt console template sdl <id>

# List providers able to run an SDL (bid screening)
akt console screen <sdl-file>

# Screen explicit resources, or override values read from an SDL
akt console screen --cpu 2 --memory 4Gi --gpu 1 --gpu-model a100

Credentials

# Manage Console API keys (the secret is shown ONCE)
akt console apikey list
akt console apikey create <name> [expires-at]
akt console apikey delete <id>

# Mint a provider-scoped JWT
akt console jwt create

Successful Console leaf commands write a Next: hint to stderr. Structured stdout stays pipe-safe, and --quiet suppresses the hint.

Provider Commands

Direct provider gateway operations for keyring contexts. A provider address resolves its gateway URL from the provider’s on-chain record. --provider-url optionally overrides that gateway URL; it is not a chain RPC endpoint. Protected lease operations use jwt (default) or mtls authentication from the context.

Lease-scoped commands resolve the provider, gseq, and oseq from the deployment’s single active lease when possible. Pass --provider to choose when several active leases exist.

Provider Status

akt provider status [provider-addr] --timeout 30s

Provider status is public and does not require a wallet or default account.

Lease Status

akt provider lease-status [dseq]

Lease Logs

akt provider lease-logs [dseq]

Flags:

• -f, --follow - Follow log output
• --service - Filter logs by service name
• --tail - Number of lines to show from the end of the logs

--tail cannot be combined with --follow.

Lease Events

akt provider lease-events [dseq] --follow

Lease Shell

Open an interactive shell session to a container in a lease. Positional arguments are the remote command, so --dseq and --service are flags here.

akt provider lease-shell --dseq <dseq> --service <service> -- /bin/sh

Flags:

• --dseq - Deployment sequence number
• --service - Service name (required)
• --stdin - Force stdin attachment for an explicit terminal command
• -t, --tty - Allocate a TTY (default: true)

Explicit commands launched from a terminal detach stdin by default. Piped input attaches automatically. Structured output requires an explicit command and returns separate stdout and stderr fields.

Confidential-compute attestation

Request a fresh hardware quote from a confidential-compute lease:

akt provider lease-attestation [dseq]

The command verifies the provider transport and nonce freshness. It does not yet validate the hardware evidence signature, endorsement chain, or measurement policy.

Manifests

# Send an SDL manifest to the provider
akt provider send-manifest deploy.yaml --dseq 12345

# Retrieve the current manifest
akt provider get-manifest [dseq]

Without --provider, send-manifest attempts every provider holding an active lease. It reports an error unless all active providers accept the manifest.

Migrations

# Migrate hostnames between deployments
akt provider migrate-hostnames --dseq 12345 --hostnames example.com,app.example.com

# Migrate endpoints between deployments
akt provider migrate-endpoints --dseq 12345 --endpoints <endpoints>

Store Commands

Manage the per-context local deployment store.

# Display local store information
akt store status

# Reconcile tracked accounts with on-chain deployments, leases, and bids
akt store sync [account]

# Export the local store to YAML or JSON
akt store export

# Import records from a previously exported file
akt store import <file>

The export format is for inspection and backup. It is not a deployable SDL.

Monitor Commands

Real-time dashboards over an RPC WebSocket connection. See Network Monitor.

# Launch hub (defaults to Network dashboard)
akt monitor

# Direct dashboards
akt monitor network
akt monitor provider
akt monitor oracle
akt monitor bme

Inside the Network dashboard, 1 opens Overview, 2 Validators, 3 Governance proposals, and 4 Governance parameters. Tab and Shift-Tab switch dashboards.

Flags:

• --rpc - RPC endpoint (also accepted as a positional argument)
• --insecure - Skip TLS verification
• --clean-cache - Clear cache and start fresh

MCP Command

Start an MCP server for AI assistant integration. See MCP Server.

# Read-only mode (safe for AI agents)
akt mcp

# With write tools enabled
akt mcp --enable-writes

# Console tools only, no context needed
akt mcp --console-api-key <key>

Flags:

• --enable-writes - Enable write tools (on-chain transactions and provider mutations)
• --console-api-key - Console API key; overrides the context credential and AKT_CONSOLE_API_KEY

With both rails configured, read-only mode exposes 27 tools and write-enabled mode exposes 33. Ctrl-C and closed stdin both stop the server cleanly.

A Console API key can start a contextless read-only server. --enable-writes requires an explicitly selected context so mutations have an action-log destination. If an optional chain signer cannot initialize, available read tools remain registered while signing-dependent tools are omitted.

Utility Commands

Version

# Short form: version, commit, build date
akt version

# Full build info: version, commit, build date, Go version, platform, build tags
akt version --long

Completion

# Generate a shell completion script (bash, zsh, fish, powershell)
akt completion zsh

Output Formats

Control output format with --output (-o):

# Pretty table (default): color-coded states, bold identifiers
akt query deployment

# JSON
akt query deployment -o json

# YAML
akt query deployment -o yaml

# JSONL (workflow commands, for CI/CD)
akt deploy deploy.yaml --bid-select cheapest --yes -o jsonl

Related Resources

• Installation
• Contexts & Configuration
• Deployments
• Console Integration
• SDL Reference