Transfer P-Chain Funds

Transferring funds between P-Chain wallets becomes necessary in certain situations:

Funds need to be sent to the Subnet control key, which might have a zero balance due to fee payments. The Subnet control key requires funding to ensure proper support for Subnet operations.
Funds need to be moved from one Ledger address index to another. A Ledger manages an infinite sequence of addresses all derived from a master private key and can sign for any of those addresses. Each one is referred to by an index, or the associated address. Avalanche-CLI usually expects to use index 0, but sometimes, the funds are in a different index. Occasionally, a transfer made to a ledger can be made to an address different from the default one used by the CLI.

To enable direct transfers between P-Chain addresses, use the command avalanche key transfer. This operation involves a series of import/export actions with the P-Chain and X-Chain. The fee for this operation is four times the typical import operation fee, which comes out to 0.004 AVAX. You can find more information about fees here.

Note

The key transfer command can also be applied to the stored keys managed by the CLI. It enables moving funds from one stored key to another, and from a ledger to a stored key or the other way.

This how-to guide focuses on transferring funds between ledger accounts.

Prerequisites

Avalanche-CLI installed
Multiple Ledger devices configured for Avalanche

Sending All Funds From One Ledger to Another

Source address: ledger A, index 2 (the web wallet shows 4.5 AVAX for this ledger)
Target address: ledger B, index 0 (the web wallet shows 0 AVAX for this ledger)

Determine Sender Address Index

A ledger can manage an infinite amount of addresses derived from a main private key. Because of this, many operations require the user to specify an address index.

After confirming with a web wallet that 4.5 AVAX is available on p-chain address P-avax10an3cucdfqru984pnvv6y0rspvvclz63e523m0, connect ledger A.

With the avalanche app running, execute:

avalanche key list --mainnet --ledger 0,1,2,3,4,5

To see p-chain addresses and balances for the first 6 indices in the ledger derived owner addresses.

+--------+---------+-------------------------+-----------------------------------------------+---------+---------+
|  KIND  |  NAME   |          CHAIN          |                    ADDRESS                    | BALANCE | NETWORK |
+--------+---------+-------------------------+-----------------------------------------------+---------+---------+
| ledger | index 0 | P-Chain (Bech32 format) | P-avax1g8yucm7j0cnwwru4rp5lkzw6dpdxjmc2rfkqs9 |       0 | Mainnet |
+        +---------+                         +-----------------------------------------------+---------+---------+
|        | index 1 |                         | P-avax1drppshkst2ccygyq37m2z9e3ex2jhkd2txcm5r |       0 | Mainnet |
+        +---------+                         +-----------------------------------------------+---------+---------+
|        | index 2 |                         | P-avax10an3cucdfqru984pnvv6y0rspvvclz63e523m0 |     4.5 | Mainnet |
+        +---------+                         +-----------------------------------------------+---------+---------+
|        | index 3 |                         | P-avax1yfpm7v5y5rej2nu7t2r0ffgrlpfq36je0rc5k6 |       0 | Mainnet |
+        +---------+                         +-----------------------------------------------+---------+---------+
|        | index 4 |                         | P-avax17nqvwcqsa8ddgeww8gzmfe932pz2syaj2vyd89 |       0 | Mainnet |
+        +---------+                         +-----------------------------------------------+---------+---------+
|        | index 5 |                         | P-avax1jzvnd05vsfksrtatm2e3rzu6eux9a287493yf8 |       0 | Mainnet |
+--------+---------+-------------------------+-----------------------------------------------+---------+---------+

The address P-avax10an3cucdfqru984pnvv6y0rspvvclz63e523m0 has 4.5 AVAX and is associated with index 2 of ledger A.

Determine Receiver Address Index

In this case the user wants to use index 0, the one CLI by default expects to contain funds.

For the transfer command, it is also needed to know the target p-chain address. Do the following to obtain it:

With the ledger B connected and the avalache app running, execute:

avalanche key list --mainnet --ledger 0
 
# output
+--------+---------+-------------------------+-----------------------------------------------+---------+---------+
|  KIND  |  NAME   |          CHAIN          |                    ADDRESS                    | BALANCE | NETWORK |
+--------+---------+-------------------------+-----------------------------------------------+---------+---------+
| ledger | index 0 | P-Chain (Bech32 format) | P-avax1r4aceznjkz8ch4pmpqrmkq4f3sl952mdrdt6xm |       0 | Mainnet |
+--------+---------+-------------------------+-----------------------------------------------+---------+---------+

Target address to be used is P-avax1r4aceznjkz8ch4pmpqrmkq4f3sl952mdrdt6xm, containing 0 funds.

Send the Transfer

A P-Chain to P-chain transfer is a two-part operation. There is no need for the two parts to be executed on the same machine, only for them to have some common params. For each part, the appropriate ledger (either source or target) must be connected to the machine executing it.

The first step moves the money out of the source account into a X-Chain account owner by the receiver. It needs to be signed by the sending ledger.

Enter the amount of AVAX to send to the recipient. This amount does not include fees.

Note that the sending ledger pays all the fees.

Then start the command:

avalanche key transfer

First step is to specify the network. Mainnet in this case:

Use the arrow keys to navigate: ↓ ↑ → ←
? Network to use:
  ▸ Mainnet
    Fuji
    Local Network

Next, the step of the transfer must be specified. Send in this case:

? Step of the transfer:
  ▸ Send
    Receive

Next, the key source for the sender address. That is, the key that is going to sign the sending transactions. Select Use ledger:

? Which key source should be used to  for the sender address?:
    Use stored key
  ▸ Use ledger

Next, the ledger index is asked for. Input 2:

✗ Ledger index to use: 2

Next, the amount to be sent is asked for:

✗ Amount to send (AVAX units): 4.496

The, the target address is required:

✗ Receiver address: P-avax1r4aceznjkz8ch4pmpqrmkq4f3sl952mdrdt6xm

After that, a confirmation message is printed. Read carefully and choose Yes:

this operation is going to:
- send 4.496000000 AVAX from P-avax10an3cucdfqru984pnvv6y0rspvvclz63e523m0 to target address P-avax1r4aceznjkz8ch4pmpqrmkq4f3sl952mdrdt6xm
- take a fee of 0.004000000 AVAX from source address P-avax10an3cucdfqru984pnvv6y0rspvvclz63e523m0
 
Use the arrow keys to navigate: ↓ ↑ → ←
? Confirm transfer:
    No
  ▸ Yes

After this, the first part is completed:

Issuing ExportTx P -> X

Receive the Transfer

In this step, Ledger B signs the transaction to receive the funds. It imports the funds on the X-Chain before exporting them back to the desired P-Chain address.

Connect ledger B and execute avalanche app.

Then start the command:

avalanche key transfer

Specify the Mainnet network:

Use the arrow keys to navigate: ↓ ↑ → ←
? Network to use:
  ▸ Mainnet
    Fuji
    Local Network

Next, the step of the transfer must be specified. Receive in this case:

? Step of the transfer:
    Send
  ▸ Receive

Then, select Ledger as the key source that is going to sign the receiver operations.

? Which key source should be used to  for the receiver address?:
    Use stored key
  ▸ Use ledger

Next, the ledger index is asked for. Input 0:

✗ Ledger index to use: 0

Next, the amount to receive is asked for:

✗ Amount to send (AVAX units): 4.496

After that, a confirmation message is printed. Select Yes:

this operation is going to:
- receive 4.496000000 AVAX at target address P-avax1r4aceznjkz8ch4pmpqrmkq4f3sl952mdrdt6xm:
 
Use the arrow keys to navigate: ↓ ↑ → ←
? Confirm transfer:
    No
  ▸ Yes

Finally, the second part of the operation is executed and the transfer is completed.

Issuing ImportTx P -> X
Issuing ExportTx X -> P
Issuing ImportTx X -> P

Verifying Results of the Transfer Operation using `key list`

First verify ledger A accounts. Connect ledger A and open the avalanche app:

avalanche key list --mainnet --ledger 0,1,2,3,4,5

With result:

+--------+---------+-------------------------+-----------------------------------------------+---------+---------+
|  KIND  |  NAME   |          CHAIN          |                    ADDRESS                    | BALANCE | NETWORK |
+--------+---------+-------------------------+-----------------------------------------------+---------+---------+
| ledger | index 0 | P-Chain (Bech32 format) | P-avax1g8yucm7j0cnwwru4rp5lkzw6dpdxjmc2rfkqs9 |       0 | Mainnet |
+        +---------+                         +-----------------------------------------------+---------+---------+
|        | index 1 |                         | P-avax1drppshkst2ccygyq37m2z9e3ex2jhkd2txcm5r |       0 | Mainnet |
+        +---------+                         +-----------------------------------------------+---------+---------+
|        | index 2 |                         | P-avax10an3cucdfqru984pnvv6y0rspvvclz63e523m0 |       0 | Mainnet |
+        +---------+                         +-----------------------------------------------+---------+---------+
|        | index 3 |                         | P-avax1yfpm7v5y5rej2nu7t2r0ffgrlpfq36je0rc5k6 |       0 | Mainnet |
+        +---------+                         +-----------------------------------------------+---------+---------+
|        | index 4 |                         | P-avax17nqvwcqsa8ddgeww8gzmfe932pz2syaj2vyd89 |       0 | Mainnet |
+        +---------+                         +-----------------------------------------------+---------+---------+
|        | index 5 |                         | P-avax1jzvnd05vsfksrtatm2e3rzu6eux9a287493yf8 |       0 | Mainnet |
+--------+---------+-------------------------+-----------------------------------------------+---------+---------+

Next, verify ledger B accounts. Connect ledger B and open the Avalanche app:

avalanche key list --mainnet --ledger 0,1,2,3,4,5

With result:

+--------+---------+-------------------------+-----------------------------------------------+---------+---------+
|  KIND  |  NAME   |          CHAIN          |                    ADDRESS                    | BALANCE | NETWORK |
+--------+---------+-------------------------+-----------------------------------------------+---------+---------+
| ledger | index 0 | P-Chain (Bech32 format) | P-avax1r4aceznjkz8ch4pmpqrmkq4f3sl952mdrdt6xm |   4.496 | Mainnet |
+        +---------+                         +-----------------------------------------------+---------+---------+
|        | index 1 |                         | P-avax18e9qsm30du590lhkwydhmkfwhcc9999gvxcaez |       0 | Mainnet |
+        +---------+                         +-----------------------------------------------+---------+---------+
|        | index 2 |                         | P-avax1unkkjstggvdty5gtnfhc0mgnl7qxa52z2d4c9y |       0 | Mainnet |
+        +---------+                         +-----------------------------------------------+---------+---------+
|        | index 3 |                         | P-avax1ek7n0zky3py7prxcrgnmh44y3wm6lc7r7x5r8e |       0 | Mainnet |
+        +---------+                         +-----------------------------------------------+---------+---------+
|        | index 4 |                         | P-avax1rsz6nt6qht5ep37qjk7ht0u9h30mgfhehsmqea |       0 | Mainnet |
+        +---------+                         +-----------------------------------------------+---------+---------+
|        | index 5 |                         | P-avax17u5wm4tfex7xr27xlwejm28pyk84tj0jzp42zz |       0 | Mainnet |
+--------+---------+-------------------------+-----------------------------------------------+---------+---------+

Recovery Steps

As a multi step operation, the receiving part of the transfer can have intermediate errors, due for example to temporal network connections on the client side.

The CLI is going to capture errors and provide the user with a recovery message of the kind:

ERROR: restart from this step by using the same command with extra arguments: --receive-recovery-step 1

If this happen, the receiving operation should be started the same way, choosing the same options, but adding the extra suggested parameter:

avalanche key transfer --receive-recovery-step 1

Then, the CLI is going to resume where it left off.

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