@degenai/cli

AI image generation, upscaling, and editing — paid per call in USDC on Base via x402. No accounts, no API keys, no signups. Just a Base wallet with USDC.

Install

npm install -g @degenai/cli

Requires Node.js 18+.

Quick start

# 1. Set a Base wallet (HOT wallet — fund with $5–10 only, never your main wallet)
export DEGENAI_PRIVATE_KEY=0x...                    # macOS / Linux
$env:DEGENAI_PRIVATE_KEY = "0x..."                  # Windows PowerShell

# 2. Verify setup, balances, and API reachability
degenai init

# 3. Generate — cheapest first
degenai generate -p "neon cyberpunk cat" --flow -m nano-banana -a 16:9 -o cat.png   # $0.005
degenai generate -p "neon cyberpunk cat" -o cat.png                                  # $0.015 (default)

That's it — payment, image, save. No further setup.

Two cheap paths

• nano-banana or pro via the Flow path — $0.005 per image (cheapest). Add --flow plus -m nano-banana or -m pro, plus -a 16:9 / 9:16 / 4:3 / 3:4. Always 1K. The CLI validates these constraints before sending payment, so no USDC is spent on a misconfigured call.
• gpt-image-2 — $0.015 per image (default). Plain degenai generate -p "…" with no extra flags hits gpt-image-2. Any aspect ratio, 1K.

Windows PowerShell users

If degenai --version prints UnauthorizedAccess / running scripts is disabled on this system, your PowerShell is blocking unsigned .ps1 shims that npm installs. Two options:

• Use Git Bash / cmd / Windows Terminal with bash — the CLI works there with no changes.
• Or unblock PowerShell once (per-user, safe):

  Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope CurrentUser RemoteSigned

This is a Windows-wide policy, not a @degenai/cli issue — it affects all globally-installed npm CLIs the same way.

Hot-wallet warning

DEGENAI_PRIVATE_KEY is read on every command. Use a dedicated wallet with only enough USDC for what you intend to spend (a few dollars). Never paste your main / hardware-wallet private key. If the env var leaks (shell history, CI logs, malicious package), the funds in that wallet are lost.

Commands

degenai init

Setup check: validates DEGENAI_PRIVATE_KEY, derives your address, queries USDC + ETH balances on Base, and confirms the API is reachable.

degenai pricing

Lists current per-service pricing from the live API.

degenai generate

degenai generate -p "<prompt>" [--flow] [-m <model>] [-a <ratio>] [-r <res>] [-i <input>] [-o <out>]

• --flow — $0.005 path. Requires -m nano-banana or -m pro, and -a 16:9 / 9:16 / 4:3 / 3:4. Always 1K.
• -m, --model — default gpt-image-2 ($0.015). Others: nano-banana ($0.05) · seedream ($0.10) · pro ($0.15) · gpt-image ($0.15)
• -a, --aspect — Auto (default), 1:1, 16:9, 9:16, 4:3, 3:4, …
• -r, --resolution — 1K (default), 2K, 4K (4K only on pro; ignored on --flow)
• -i, --image — input image for img2img; repeat flag for multiple inputs

degenai upscale

degenai upscale -i in.png -s 4 -o big.png        # 2x ($0.05) or 4x ($0.10)

degenai remove-bg

degenai remove-bg -i in.png -o transparent.png   # $0.02

degenai magic-eraser

degenai magic-eraser -i in.png -k mask.png -o out.png   # $0.02 (white in mask = erase)

Environment variables

| Variable | Required | Default | Purpose | |---|---|---|---| | DEGENAI_PRIVATE_KEY | yes (except pricing / init info) | — | Base wallet that pays via x402 | | DEGENAI_API_URL | no | https://aibasegen.vercel.app | Override API host (self-hosted / staging) | | BASE_RPC_URL | no | https://mainnet.base.org | Custom Base RPC for init balance checks |

How payment works

Each command opens an HTTPS request to the API, receives an HTTP 402 Payment Required response with payment requirements, signs an EIP-3009 USDC transferWithAuthorization with your private key, retries the request with the signed X-PAYMENT header, and the server settles on Base before returning your result. You only pay on success — settlement runs before the expensive AI work, and the response is HTTP-streamed back. Powered by @x402/fetch.

Web playground & alternatives

• Browser (no CLI, no private key paste): https://aibasegen.vercel.app
• MCP server (Claude / Cursor): coming soon

License

MIT