Time to read: 1 min
Configure Hardhat for Rootstock
Prerequisites
- Rootstock-compatible accounts/address.
- You can use existing accounts or create new ones. See Account Based Addresses.
- Wallet
- Set up a Metamask wallet and get a private key.
Getting Started
Step 1: Set up Your Hardhat Environment
- Install dotenv
To manage environment variables, install dotenvusing the following command:
  npm install dotenv
- Create a .envfile- In the rootstock-quick-start-guideproject root, create a.envfile and add your private keys (do not share this file):
 
- In the 
  ROOTSTOCK_MAINNET_PRIVATE_KEY="your_mainnet_private_key"
  ROOTSTOCK_TESTNET_PRIVATE_KEY="your_testnet_private_key"
Note
Depending on your desired network, using a Testnet and Mainnet private key is optional, as you're not required to have separate private keys in your environment variable.
Step 2: Configure Private Keys
To configure your rskMainnet and rskTestnet private keys, you'll need to update your hardhat.config.js file in the root directory with your private keys.
- Copy the code snippet below and replace the existing code in your hardhat.config.jsfile. See diff file for initial code.
  require("@nomiclabs/hardhat-ethers");
  require('dotenv').config();
<!-- Hardhat configuration -->
  module.exports = {
    solidity: "0.8.20",
    networks: {
      rskMainnet: {
        url: "https://rpc.mainnet.rootstock.io/{YOUR_APIKEY}",
        chainId: 30,
        gasPrice: 60000000,
        accounts: [process.env.ROOTSTOCK_MAINNET_PRIVATE_KEY]
      },
      rskTestnet: {
        url: "https://rpc.testnet.rootstock.io/{YOUR_APIKEY}",
        chainId: 31,
        gasPrice: 60000000,
        accounts: [process.env.ROOTSTOCK_TESTNET_PRIVATE_KEY]
      }
    }
  };
See how to Get an API Key from the RPC API
Replace
"your_mainnet_private_key"and"your_testnet_private_key"with your private keys. For information on how to retrieve your private keys, see How to export an account's private key.
Step 3: Fund Your Accounts
- Mainnet
- You'll need RBTC, which you can obtain from an exchange. See Get RBTC using Exchanges.
 
- Testnet
- You can get tRBTC from the Rootstock Faucet.