Practical overview
When it fits
Use Hdkeygen when a command-line workflow is needed for generating or deriving wallet material using its documented BIP and EIP support, or for deriving Bitcoin addresses from WIF input.
Who it is for
- Developers needing command-line generation of wallet keys, mnemonic seeds or HD addresses.
- Technically capable wallet users working with the listed Bitcoin derivation paths or Ethereum address checksums.
Documented uses
- Generate BIP39 mnemonic and seed material, optionally using a passphrase.
- Derive Bitcoin HD keys and addresses using the listed BIP derivation and address standards.
- Decode a Bitcoin WIF private key and generate corresponding Bitcoin addresses.
- Regenerate a root key from supplied mnemonic words.
Requirements & limits
The repository is public and identifies its license as WTFPL. The README documents Go installation and a Docker invocation.
- The tool handles private keys and mnemonic material; its README recommends users verify the code’s validity and suitability.
- The documented interface is command-line flags, not a graphical wallet workflow.
- The listed protocol support includes BIP32, BIP39, BIP43, BIP44, BIP49, BIP84, BIP86, BIP173, SLIP44 and EIP55.
Check current requirements in the official documentation. Source-based guidance does not mean OpenViST has run or independently tested this project.
Install hdkeygen with Go
Install the hdkeygen command-line utility using its documented Go installation command.
Before you start
- Go installation is available.
Steps
Run the command below.
go install github.com/modood/hdkeygen@latestContinue to the README’s Usage section for the documented command-line options and examples.
Expected outcome
The documented installation command is run; the README lists options for mnemonic input, a BIP39 passphrase, key count, and WIF decoding.
Guide limitations
- The project recommends auditing and verifying the code for validity and suitability.
Generate Bitcoin addresses from an existing WIF
Use hdkeygen’s documented WIF option to decode a private key and generate Bitcoin addresses.
Before you start
- hdkeygen is installed.
- An existing WIF private key is available.
Steps
Run
hdkeygen -wif, substituting the WIF value for the example key shown in the README.Review the output for the decoded WIF forms and generated Bitcoin public addresses.
Expected outcome
The documented example produces compressed and uncompressed WIF forms and Legacy, nested SegWit, bech32 SegWit, and Taproot address output.
Guide limitations
- The WIF option is documented for Bitcoin address generation.
- The project recommends auditing and verifying the code for validity and suitability; the README does not establish that generated keys are safe for production use.
Sources & review
Source record details
- Source availability
- Active
- Sources checked
- 15 October 2026
- Original website title
- modood/hdkeygen · Official homepage title · retained in its source language

