# Stake pool operator

## Introduction

This guide is for stake pool operators on Cardano, that would like to verify their pool ownership, so they can send announcements to all RYP users that are staked to their pool and have not disabled pool-related announcements (see [Wallet settings](https://docs.ryp.io/your-account/notifications)).

The process is following the standard for Stake pool verification on Cardano, CIP-0022. You can read more about CIP-0022 in the official document at <https://cips.cardano.org/cip/CIP-22>.

## Prerequisites

To get your pool verified, you will need the following three items readily available

1. Your **pool hash in hex format** (not the bech32 version that starts with *pool1*).
2. Access to your **VRF signing and verification keys**. Your verification key needs to be available for you to upload in the browser you are using to verify your pool.
3. A version of the **cncli** command line tools installed wherever you have your VRF signing key.

You can find instructions on how to download and install the free node operators tool **cncli** here:

<https://github.com/cardano-community/cncli>

## Verification process

1. Navigate to the **Publish** area of RYP by going to <https://www.ryp.io/publish>

2. Click on **Create new project**

3. Select **SPO (Stake Pool Operator)**

4. On the following page, **enter your pool hash** in the first input field:<br>

   <figure><img src="https://975764316-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F13fPIi6czwSBcgD3fgBO%2Fuploads%2FC6q7t3Pv90piAubpSr2A%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=16117348-1a51-43da-93b6-60e1e5ad195a" alt="A form input field containing a Cardano stake pool hash in hex format" width="375"><figcaption><p>A form input field containing a Cardano stake pool hash in hex format</p></figcaption></figure>

5. Your **pool details should automatically populate**. If they do not, you likely have an error in your pool hash or additional whitespace:<br>

   <figure><img src="https://975764316-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F13fPIi6czwSBcgD3fgBO%2Fuploads%2Fl0H2z4SASF1ZYy45VS91%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=624c3037-82db-467e-82c2-a899e939e919" alt="The automatically populated fields of a Stake pool registration form" width="375"><figcaption><p>The automatically populated fields of a Stake pool registration form</p></figcaption></figure>

6. **Select a logo** by dragging and dropping or clicking the logo panel below:<br>

   <figure><img src="https://975764316-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F13fPIi6czwSBcgD3fgBO%2Fuploads%2FUPH0oONDCdUf7VZu9dBQ%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=c3c17b06-1777-436a-88e6-c8208cc5005b" alt="A form element where you can Click to upload a logo or drag a logo on it" width="375"><figcaption><p>A form element where you can Click to upload a logo or drag a logo on it</p></figcaption></figure>

7. ⚠️ Once your logo is selected, **you have five minutes to complete the verification process**. If you do not complete within five minutes, you will have to click the restart button next to the timer.<br>

   <figure><img src="https://975764316-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F13fPIi6czwSBcgD3fgBO%2Fuploads%2FrFv4ajhiKhJjusRhI8XU%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=5a5916fa-481e-4ba7-869d-1fd201626f1b" alt="The verification timer and where the restart button will appear." width="161"><figcaption><p>The verification timer and where the restart button will appear.</p></figcaption></figure>

8. After uploading your logo, you will be shown a verification nonce, as well as a cncli command to run. **Click the button at the bottom to copy to the command to your clipboard**. Adjust the *\[vrf-signing-key-file]* part to the location of your VRF signing key and run the command:<br>

   <figure><img src="https://975764316-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F13fPIi6czwSBcgD3fgBO%2Fuploads%2Fbkb8FsXDdgwHvDteKDIj%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=752987ff-e2ec-42e1-b911-d62a9ee18196" alt="The SPO verification nonce to use, as well as a button to copy the cncli command to your clipboard." width="375"><figcaption><p>The SPO verification nonce to use, as well as a button to copy the cncli command to your clipboard.</p></figcaption></figure>

9. Once you have clicked the button, a new input field will appear. **Paste into it the signature part of the JSON output of the command you ran**, as shown below:<br>

   <figure><img src="https://975764316-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F13fPIi6czwSBcgD3fgBO%2Fuploads%2FIuVlh2zzpv4QFogHteH5%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=a672d090-1c93-4daa-95da-f7599667fea2" alt="Running the cncli command line gives you a signature in a JSON output format" width="375"><figcaption><p>Running the cncli command line gives you a signature in a JSON output format</p></figcaption></figure>

   <figure><img src="https://975764316-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F13fPIi6czwSBcgD3fgBO%2Fuploads%2FBw25p8snPzPDkXsCINjT%2F2024-08-04_16-20-18.jpg?alt=media&#x26;token=f8685c48-d179-4d71-9513-7f7f8c76586e" alt="The signature input field, populated with the data from the previous command" width="375"><figcaption><p>The signature input field, populated with the data from the previous command</p></figcaption></figure>

10. **Upload your VRF verification key in the next input field. Then click Submit verification.**\
    \
    \&#xNAN;*This is safe and this key is not stored by us, nor can it be used for anything but verifying your signature. We compare your verification key hash with what is stored on chain to confirm that you have used your pools key for signing.*\
    \
    *If you accidentally try to upload your VRF signing key, the system will reject it to protect your keys.*<br>

    <figure><img src="https://975764316-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F13fPIi6czwSBcgD3fgBO%2Fuploads%2Fwgg29VyPMwL5wFbAT2lb%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=484b5378-ae17-45b3-9383-b641f44fa472" alt="A file upload field and instructions on how to select the right VRF verification key file" width="375"><figcaption><p>A file upload field and instructions on how to select the right VRF verification key file</p></figcaption></figure>

11. If your verification is successful, you will see an according message. **Click on Create stakepool project** to finish your project creation.<br>

    <figure><img src="https://975764316-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F13fPIi6czwSBcgD3fgBO%2Fuploads%2F9RIT85TlEvJyozyIVSlk%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=a39cd4be-09ae-493a-9f77-3d134864ae62" alt="A success message confirming verification and the button to create the project" width="375"><figcaption><p>A success message confirming verification and the button to create the project</p></figcaption></figure>

12. 👏 Congratulations, you are now ready to publish announcements to your delegators.

Learn more about sending out announcements and updates to your delegators in our publishing section:

{% content-ref url="../publishing" %}
[publishing](https://docs.ryp.io/publishing)
{% endcontent-ref %}