Seedtool CLI is a free, open-source command-line program from Blockchain Commons for generating and converting seeds, aimed at developers and technically experienced users who handle wallet backups. Read this before downloading: the repository is deprecated, and its last code update came in July 2024.
The original C++ SeedTool in this repository has been superseded by a Rust rewrite, which keeps input and output formats compatible with the older version. This page covers Seedtool CLI for Windows: what the tool does, how to install a ready-made build, how to check the file before running it, and which alternatives suit different needs. Because the program handles seed material, the safety guidance is more detailed than for an ordinary utility.
What Is a Seed and Why Generation Matters
A seed is a secret value, usually shown as a list of words, from which a wallet derives its private keys. Whoever holds the seed can recreate those keys, which is why it is often called the master secret of a wallet. Losing it can mean losing access to the funds it controls, and exposing it can hand those funds to someone else.
Because the seed is the root of everything, the way it is created matters. Good generation depends on a strong source of randomness, and a predictable value produced by weak code can undermine the whole wallet. Tools like Seedtool CLI exist so that generation and conversion happen in a deliberate, inspectable step rather than inside a web page you cannot audit.
Conversion is the second half of the job. Backups are often moved between tools, formats change over time, and a seed saved in one representation may need to be expressed in another. A dedicated utility keeps that translation explicit, which makes it easier to confirm that nothing was altered along the way.
Who Seedtool CLI Is For
This program suits developers who build or test wallet software and need reproducible seed values for test cases. It also fits security-minded users who prefer to see exactly what a tool does rather than trusting a graphical interface.
Consider a developer writing a script that checks how a wallet handles several seed formats. Running the tool from a terminal lets the script call it directly and record the results. A researcher comparing two generations of the same toolchain might rely on the format compatibility to confirm that outputs still match.
It is less suitable for someone who wants a point-and-click experience. Commands must be typed correctly, and a small mistake in a conversion can produce output that looks valid but is not what you intended. Users new to the command line may find a guided, offline browser tool easier to start with, which is one of the alternatives discussed below.
Building an Offline Backup Routine
A seed generator is only one step in protecting a wallet. The surrounding routine matters just as much. Many people generate seeds on a computer that is disconnected from the internet, then write the words by hand on paper rather than saving them as a file.
Storage is the next decision. A paper copy kept in a fireproof location is simple and does not depend on electronics. Some users keep a second copy in a separate building, so one event cannot destroy every backup. Avoid photographing the words or pasting them into cloud notes, because those copies can be synced or indexed without your knowledge.
Finally, rehearse recovery before you need it. Confirm that you can read your handwriting, that you know which command restores a seed, and that the instructions are stored somewhere a trusted person can find them. Practice with a test seed that holds no funds, so the real backup never has to be exposed during the exercise.
Key features
Seed Generation and Conversion
Compatible Formats
Open Source Under BSD-2-Clause
Free and Multi-Platform
How to install Seedtool CLI on Windows
- 1
Get the Release
Download only from the official website or the project's GitHub Releases page under Blockchain Commons. Pick the Windows build that matches your system, and skip any mirror sites or file-sharing links offering the same file.
- 2
Verify the File
Compare the file's SHA-256 hash with the value published alongside the release, or check the signature if one is provided. In PowerShell, Get-FileHash with the SHA256 algorithm computes the value. If the hashes do not match, delete the file and do not run it.
-
Install and Confirm
Extract the archive or run the installer into a folder you control. Open a terminal in that folder and run the help command to confirm the program starts and lists its options before you use it on any real seed material.
How to use Seedtool CLI
Seedtool CLI is used entirely from a terminal, so plan the session before you start. Work in a clean folder and, if you are handling real seed material, use a computer you trust and keep it offline while generating values.
- Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and move into the folder that contains the program.
- Run the help command to list the available subcommands and options, and read them before typing anything else.
- Decide whether you need to generate a new seed or convert an existing one, and note the input and output formats you expect.
- Run the command with the minimum options needed, and check that the output format matches your plan.
- Write any real seed by hand on paper, or store it in the medium you have prepared, rather than redirecting output to a file on disk.
- Clear the terminal history and delete any temporary files the session created, then close the window.
For scripting, keep test inputs separate from real material and label every output file clearly so you never mix them up later.
Pros & cons
- Free and open source under the BSD-2-Clause license
- Command-line design suits scripting and repeatable workflows
- The Rust successor keeps compatibility with the original formats
- Lists several platforms, including Windows, macOS and Linux
- The repository is deprecated, and the original C++ code will not receive new development
- The last code update was in July 2024
- Requires comfort with the command line
- It is a utility for seeds, not a complete wallet
Is Seedtool CLI safe?
Seedtool CLI handles seed material, so treat its download and use as security-sensitive. Get the program only from the official website or the project's GitHub Releases page under Blockchain Commons, and never from mirror sites or file-sharing links. After downloading, compare the file's SHA-256 hash with the value published with the release, or verify the signature if one is provided. A mismatch means the file should be discarded.
The repository is deprecated and its last code update came in July 2024, so review the release notes and consider the Rust successor for new work. Never enter a seed phrase on a third-party website, including online generators, and run real seed operations on an offline machine. Keep your antivirus and system updates active while you verify and install the file.
- Official source only. Download from github.com/BlockchainCommons/seedtool-cli. Ignore ads and lookalike domains.
- Check the SHA-256. Compare the installer hash with the value the developer publishes before running it.
- Never share your seed phrase. No developer, support agent or website — including CryptApps — will ever ask for it.
Alternatives
Seedtool CLI sits in a narrow niche. Ian Coleman BIP39 Tool is an offline utility for working with BIP39 phrases and is built around a browser interface, which many users find easier than a terminal. Seedtool CLI is a command-line program, so it fits scripted tasks and repeatable workflows better.
Other programs on this site solve different problems. VanitySearch and Vaniton generate vanity addresses, and Galvanity and Cosmosvanity do the same for other networks. John the Ripper targets forgotten wallet passwords. PaperVault addresses storage instead, producing printable encrypted backups. If your main need is a backup medium rather than seed creation, PaperVault may be the more relevant starting point.
Specifications
- Price
- Free
- Type
- Open source
- License
- BSD-2-Clause
- Latest version
- 0.11.0
- Last update
- 10 Jul 2024
- Windows support
- Unverified (Windows mentioned in docs)
- Source code
- github.com/BlockchainCommons/seedtool-cli
Frequently asked questions
It can be used safely with precautions, but no program is safe by default when it handles seeds. Its source code is public under BSD-2-Clause, which lets security reviewers inspect it. However, deprecation means the original C++ codebase will not receive fixes in this repository, so for new work the Rust successor is the better choice to evaluate.
Yes, the project lists Windows among its supported platforms, and its documentation mentions Windows. Test any build in a non-sensitive environment before relying on it for real seeds, because behavior can vary between releases and between operating systems.
Yes, Seedtool CLI is free to download and use. Its license is BSD-2-Clause, which permits modification and redistribution. You do not need a subscription or an account. Read the license text if you plan to include the tool in a product you distribute to others.
The original SeedTool, written in C++, is what this repository contains, and it is now deprecated. The new SeedTool is a Rust rewrite and a complete reimplementation rather than an update. Its inputs and outputs remain compatible with the older version, so existing files can usually be used with it.
No, a ready-made program does not need those tools. Compilers and language runtimes are build-time dependencies, so they matter only if you compile the program from source. If you install a command-line tool through a package manager, that tool's own requirements apply instead.
No. Seedtool CLI is a utility for generating and converting seeds, not a wallet that stores or sends coins. It produces the seed material a wallet uses, so you still need a separate wallet application to hold funds.
Verdict
Seedtool CLI suits developers, testers and experienced users who want a free, open-source command-line tool for seed generation and conversion, and who understand that the repository is deprecated. Its compatibility with the newer Rust version makes it reasonable for maintaining older workflows. Beginners who want a guided experience should choose an alternative. Before using the program, check the latest version on the official website.