wikideck/docs/real-xmr-pilot-plan.md

# Get the real-XMR market running

Updated: 2026-10-22. Implementation plan for a private, operator-supervised functional pilot—not a public production release. Wallet access and fund movement require separate explicit approval.

## Progress checkpoint — 2026-10-22

- **Step 1 browser smoke verified; acceptance remains partial.** The isolated Compose stack started with healthy PostgreSQL/app and completed migration; the browser showed `PRIVATE PILOT`, `RPC available`, `wikideck-randomx-pilot-1`, and mock-only/no-real-XMR status. One encrypted local pilot wallet was created and unlocked in the same browser origin. A hardened disposable Linux container, capped at one CPU core, one block, and five minutes, used its encrypted backup read-only and mined/accepted block 1 (article: Portlaoise railway station); the UI then showed height 1 and one confirmed wallet NFT. A second browser wallet was not created, and no external Monero daemon or funds path was tested. Therefore Step 1's planned two-wallet flow is not yet complete.
- **Operator infrastructure update:** a Monero full node is hosted on the operator's network and is intended to be reused; the pilot does not need to deploy or synchronize another daemon. Its network mode, RPC reachability from the pilot host/container, authentication/transport boundary and sync health still need verification. This does not provide Wallet-RPC, deposit observation, address allocation or a spending wallet.
- **Next integration slice implemented:** added an operator-triggered, read-only `monerod get_info` probe, opt-in Compose check service, and mocked regression coverage. The Linux test image builds and focused probe/deployment tests pass (6/6). The probe validates expected Mainnet/Stagenet identity and synchronization, but has not been run against the operator's node because its private endpoint/configuration has not been provided. It does not enable wallet access, addresses, deposits, or credits. See [the probe setup and security boundary](real-xmr-pilot-deployment.md).
- **Pilot identity/schema slice implemented:** schema v10 additively records a separate identity binding `wikideck-randomx-pilot-1` + current pilot chain ID to Monero `mainnet`, with an immutable `identity-only` activation status. Schema v11 adds separate immutable pilot reservation rows. Explicit pilot-only migration, identity, and reservation-role CLI actions require exact acknowledgements, reject non-pilot profiles, and refuse reused financial databases.
- **Durable pilot allocation implemented:** a signed pilot request now reserves the next never-reused index transactionally, serializes concurrent allocators, replays idempotently, and rejects request/beneficiary conflicts. PostgreSQL enforces the reservation's custodian, market-chain, and Monero-network binding with a composite foreign key to the immutable pilot identity. A dedicated role can read schema digests and pilot identity, execute the isolation check, and read/insert reservations only; it cannot read balances, register addresses, or access observation, credit, or withdrawal tables. This code does not call Wallet-RPC, return a Monero address, or connect to HTTP.
- **Wallet-RPC address create/recover implemented:** the operator/library-only function verifies the configured wallet fingerprint, checks the reserved index and stable allocation label, persists a create intent before `create_address`, then reads back and validates the exact Mainnet subaddress before registering it once. Lost responses recover by the stable label without repeating creation; ambiguous missing responses remain in a durable `creating` state and stop for operator reconciliation. No HTTP enrollment, observer, credit, withdrawal, or sale path is enabled.
- **Operator address command implemented:** `monero:pilot-address` loads an owner-only signed request file, requires the pilot profile plus exact operator-action acknowledgement, checks the configured custodian and watch-only wallet generation/fingerprint/account, loads the protected Wallet-RPC and mTLS configs, verifies the wallet fingerprint, and invokes the durable create/recover library. It returns the address to that one-shot operator caller only; it is not wired into server startup, HTTP, or the browser.
- **Pilot observation persistence implemented:** schema v14 stores pilot-only wallet cursors, scan records, assigned/unallocated outputs, and append-only `seen`/`changed`/`reappeared`/`not-seen` events. The separate observer role matches outputs only to a registered reservation with the same wallet generation, fingerprint, account/index, and address; unknown outputs remain suspense. A one-shot bounded scanner resumes with overlap through the new `monero:pilot-observe` command. This is observation-only: no journal, credit, HTTP route, or background service is enabled.
- **Pilot deposit review preparation implemented:** an operator-only CLI action reads persisted pilot observations through a dedicated read-only PostgreSQL role and emits a pilot/Mainnet/custodian/allocation-bound review subject. It checks exact reservation and wallet binding, amount range, confirmations, unlock time, freshness, scan context, current presence, double-spend flag, and bounded append-only event history; changed/disappeared/reappeared evidence fails closed. The action is preparation-only: no signature approval, journal, pending/available balance, credit event, HTTP enrollment, or startup worker is involved. See [the deployment guide](real-xmr-pilot-deployment.md) for the separate role and command boundary.
- **Validation:** focused schema and observer PostgreSQL tests passed; full disposable PostgreSQL suite passed 46/46 and full serial offline suite passed 191/191. Tests cover assigned versus suspense outputs, replay, disappearance/reappearance evidence, exact large atomic amounts, zero financial posting, and observer role denials. No operator database or live node was accessed.
- **Step 1 remains incomplete only for the planned second browser wallet.** The external daemon is still not connected and there is no live-fund path. The stack remains private/mock-only and must not receive funds.
- **Validation history:** earlier pilot-only checks passed 10/10. An earlier full-suite attempt had a transient RandomX peer-gossip failure; the most recent serial offline suite subsequently exited 0.
- **Step 2 is in progress at review-preparation only.** Actual observer setup/scans against operator infrastructure, signed credit approval/staging/release, withdrawal execution/recovery, and sale settlement remain unavailable. Existing deposit/withdrawal APIs still require the separately gated mainnet profile; sale-lock transactions remain candidate-only and are not accepted by active consensus.

## Finish line

Two browser wallets complete this flow on one deployed stack:

**Buyer deposits XMR → available balance → fixed-price purchase → card ownership changes → seller receives proceeds → seller withdraws XMR.**

Use the existing pooled-custody architecture, PostgreSQL accounting, native Monero integration and UI. Do not restart architecture research, introduce another payment provider or build a general-purpose payment platform.

## Reuse what exists

- Exact atomic-XMR prices and fee calculations.
- PostgreSQL schema v14, including pilot identity, reservations, persisted observation, and append-only reorg evidence.
- Signed deposit enrollment, observation worker and reviewed credit/release commands.
- Signed balance reads and withdrawal reservation/cancellation APIs.
- Marketplace/custody UI and executable sale-lock/accounting models.

The missing work is integration plus two substantial features: **actual withdrawal execution and activated NFT sale settlement**. Current market commands remain sandbox-only; reserved withdrawals never send XMR; active consensus rejects sale-lock transactions.

## Smallest useful scope

One Linux host, one authoritative market writer, one treasury tool/worker, fixed-price sales and operator-controlled accounts initially. Manual signed deposit approvals and operator-triggered sends are sufficient. Reuse existing UI components; no admin dashboard, unattended treasury or auction system is needed.

## Implementation sequence

### 1. Make one pilot stack runnable

- Add an explicitly identified private pilot profile for the sale protocol, distinct from existing v6 and the final mainnet candidate.
- Bind signed market/payment requests to the pilot chain and custodian; select the Monero network explicitly. Real XMR requires Monero mainnet, not a public Wikideck launch.
- Give the pilot its own explicit genesis/startup configuration rather than inheriting the candidate's January 1, 2027 delay and public-peer requirements. Leave existing mainnet protections unchanged; do not fake review acknowledgements or alter v6 in place.
- Add one pilot deployment definition using existing Docker patterns: app, PostgreSQL, observer and private Wallet-RPC gateway. Reuse the operator-hosted full node over a verified private network connection; do not add a duplicate daemon service. Connect the observer/watch-only wallet and separate spending wallet explicitly. Keep daemon and Wallet-RPC endpoints private, authenticated and unavailable from the public Internet; supply credentials through protected files/secrets, not checked-in Compose values.
- Include schema initialization, role grants and required configuration in a short setup procedure. Keep spending keys outside the web app and Wallet RPC off the public Internet.

**Progress:** A separate mock-only pilot network/profile, launch opt-in, profile-isolated local storage, PostgreSQL deployment, and opt-in read-only daemon probe now exist. The probe awaits the operator's protected endpoint config. Additive schema v14 binds the pilot chain to Monero Mainnet, durably reserves signed beneficiary-bound address indexes, and stores pilot-only observation/reorg evidence in a dedicated database. A separate read-only CLI review preparer now checks that evidence and emits an unsigned subject without posting. No operator Wallet-RPC address, daemon observation, credit, or real-fund operation has been run. See [pilot deployment status and startup](real-xmr-pilot-deployment.md).

**Observed so far:** the private stack/browser health and first wallet were exercised, and the first native RandomX proof-of-work test card was accepted by the isolated pilot chain. **Still required for this step:** create the second browser wallet and verify the two-wallet UI flow. The hosted daemon's intended network, synchronization and private RPC reachability remain unverified; do not start a duplicate daemon. A Stagenet rehearsal still requires a Stagenet daemon endpoint; an operator's Mainnet daemon cannot substitute for it.

### 2. Connect deposits to spendable balances

- Add a deposit panel that signs the existing enrollment request and displays the allocated address.
- Run the observer against the configured watch-only wallet and operator-hosted daemon; show pending and available balances. Explicitly bind the Monero network and refuse a daemon/wallet network mismatch or stale/unsynchronized RPC state.
- Support the pilot identity in the existing prepare/stage/release workflow. Keep approvals operator-driven rather than adding automation.
- Report capabilities truthfully as the flow becomes available; keep mock-credit controls unreachable in real-fund mode.

**Result:** a real Stagenet deposit is observed and approved into the buyer's available balance through the running application, using a Stagenet daemon endpoint. For the eventual real-XMR run, use the operator-hosted Monero Mainnet node only after network and synchronization checks pass. This is private development progress, not a reason to solicit real deposits before cash-out works.

### 3. Finish withdrawals with an operator tool

- Extend signed reservations with durable preparation, prepared-transaction, relay and confirmation states, including an uncertain/review outcome.
- Claim a request exclusively and block cancellation once preparation begins.
- Construct/sign using the separate treasury wallet, enforcing destination, amount and maximum fee.
- Record preparation intent before wallet side effects and retain the recoverable signed transaction identity/blob before relay. Reconcile ambiguous preparation before trying again.
- Relay and track the stored transaction. Retries reuse that transaction rather than creating another payment.
- Settle the reserved liability with the actual fee and return unused fee allowance; keep uncertain sends reserved.
- Add browser withdrawal inputs, status and receipt. A CLI command can process the queue; no automatic payout scheduler is needed.

**Result:** deposit → signed withdrawal → operator send → XMR received, with correct balances and fees.

### 4. Connect purchases to NFT delivery and seller earnings

Start this alongside steps 2–3 after defining the pilot identity. Do not wait for a separate release-hardening phase.

- Integrate the existing lock/completion/cancellation/expiry model into pilot transaction validation, state commitments, mempool, canonical indexes/events, peer processing and restart replay. Use the existing RandomX ledger, not a toy substitute.
- Adapt custody listing/purchase commands for real balances and fresh signatures. Atomically reserve buyer funds with the order; exclude mock funding/payment authorizations.
- Collect seller/buyer lock consent, submit the lock and have the host attest completion only against the funded reservation.
- Feed actual canonical outcomes into PostgreSQL settlement instead of synthetic rehearsal witnesses.
- Credit seller, author and host once after configured confirmation depth; release buyer funds only after safe cancellation/expiry/non-admission evidence. Hold conflicting reorg outcomes rather than paying/refunding again.
- Allow withdrawal of legitimate sale and fee earnings. The current own-deposit backing limit prevents a seller who never deposited from cashing out. Replace it with pooled-backing accounting covering liabilities, pending sends and fees—not merely removal of the check.
- Apply existing accounting checks and incident holds to the connected sale and treasury writers.
- Adapt the existing marketplace UI to show funded checkout, lock/completion progress, delivered ownership and proceeds.

**Result:** seller lists → buyer buys → card changes owner → exact seller/fee balances appear → seller withdraws, even without a prior seller deposit.

### 5. Exercise the complete deployed flow, then test real XMR

1. Run deposit → purchase → seller withdrawal on Stagenet using the actual browsers and deployment.
2. Include focused implementation checks for duplicate requests, restart after preparation/relay, cancellation versus send and canonical sale disconnect. These protect the flow from duplicate money/asset movement; they are not a separate certification program.
3. With explicit wallet/network/amount approval, configure Monero mainnet and repeat with operator-controlled accounts and a small amount sufficient for fees.

**Result:** a functional private real-XMR market with repeatable startup and operator commands. Public launch is outside this increment.

## Parallel work

| Workstream | Start | Delivers |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pilot identity + deployment | First | Running stack and unblocked integration |
| Deposit UI + reviewed credit | After identity/setup | Funded buyer balance |
| Treasury tool + withdrawal UI | Alongside deposits | Actual cash-out |
| Sale-lock activation + custody settlement | After identity is defined, alongside payment work | Paid NFT delivery and seller earnings |
| Browser end-to-end flow | As slices connect | Deployable functional pilot |

Build each slice with its actual callers. Do not spend another increment adding a disconnected model or endpoint.

## Move out of the functional critical path

Track these separately as public-release/hardening follow-ups, rather than front-loading them as engineering phases:

- Broad audit/certification and release evidence packets.
- Production-scale benchmarks, SLOs, HA, multi-host operations and additional orchestrators.
- SBOM/provenance automation, comprehensive scanning programs and artifact signing.
- Automated certificate rotation, backup scheduling, off-site recovery certification and full on-call systems.
- Automatic credit approval, unattended signing, batching and admin dashboards.
- Auctions, fiat conversion, alternate processors and final public-mainnet launch preparation.

Keep the functional essentials: signed authorization, correct network binding, private wallet access, exact balanced accounting, one-time settlement and recoverable sends. Deferring broader hardening does not make this production-ready; public/customer-fund rollout still needs the separate policy/legal/security decisions in [the production plan](production-plan.md).

## Next coding task

**Next: add an operator-only pilot credit-review preparation path that consumes these pilot-bound assigned observations, validates confirmation/unlock/double-spend and freshness, and produces a review subject without posting a journal.** Keep unallocated outputs in suspense; do not add automatic credit, customer HTTP enrollment, or withdrawal activation. Continue after this with the separate pending-credit posting/release roles and reorg hold resolution, still gated until cash-out and recovery work is ready.