How does content signing work?

When you publish a post, the plugin hashes the content and submits the hash as CIP-20 metadata in a Cardano transaction. This creates an immutable timestamp proving you authored the content.

Do I need a Cardano wallet to use this?

Yes. You need a funded Cardano wallet for signing transactions. The plugin supports both server-side signing and CIP-30 browser wallet signing.

Does this affect my blog's SEO?

Umbrella Blog includes a complete SEO suite with meta tags, OpenGraph, and structured data. Content signing adds credibility without affecting search performance.

Umbrella Blog

One-click Cardano content signing for WordPress. Prove authorship on-chain with ADA Handle identity and a built-in SEO suite.

Cardano Content Signing Hybrid 2 - Easy CIP-20

Download Full Context for LLM

Umbrella Blog is a WordPress plugin that gives writers something the internet has always lacked: a simple, permanent way to prove authorship. Using native Cardano blockchain integration, you can cryptographically sign your blog posts with a single click — no browser extensions, no wallet popups, no technical ceremonies. Just write, publish, and sign. The result is an immutable, on-chain record proving you wrote those words at that exact moment, stored permanently via CIP-20 transaction metadata on one of the most energy-efficient blockchains in the world.

The plugin solves a real and growing problem. In an era of AI-generated content, plagiarism, and content disputes, traditional publishing offers zero built-in proof of authorship. Umbrella Blog changes that by embedding a server-side Cardano wallet directly into your WordPress dashboard. Fund it once with a few ADA and sign hundreds of posts for fractions of a cent each. Your ADA Handle becomes your portable author identity, and every signature links directly to CardanoScan for independent, public verification. This is proof of authorship that does not rely on any platform or intermediary — it lives on the blockchain forever.

Beyond content signing, Umbrella Blog is a complete blogging environment built for focus and performance. It ships with dual editor modes — Markdown with live preview and Rich Text — so you can write without fighting Gutenberg. A full SEO suite handles meta tags, Open Graph, Twitter Cards, JSON-LD structured data, XML sitemaps, canonical URLs, and focus keyword tracking out of the box. The plugin uses custom database tables instead of WordPress custom post types, meaning faster queries and zero post-meta bloat. Six built-in cyberpunk-inspired color themes and full custom color support round out a writing experience that is as beautiful as it is functional.

Umbrella Blog is built for writers, journalists, researchers, and creators who value authenticity and want verifiable ownership of their work. Whether you are establishing priority on original research, protecting freelance content, or simply building a tamper-proof portfolio, this plugin brings blockchain-powered proof of authorship to any WordPress site — no crypto expertise required.

Trust Model

Hybrid

This plugin uses a hybrid custody model. The server holds an encrypted policy wallet for co-signing, while the user’s browser wallet provides the second signature. Neither party can act alone.

Installation

1. Download the ZIP from the Download button above
2. Go to Plugins > Add New > Upload Plugin
3. Upload the ZIP file and click Install Now
4. Activate the plugin
5. Write a blog post and click the Sign Content button to create proof-of-authorship on Cardano

Documentation

Umbrella Blog

Sign and authenticate your web content with cryptographic proof.

A WordPress blogging plugin that provides what every writer needs: a simple way to prove "these words are mine." Using native Cardano blockchain integration, you can one-click sign your blog posts with immutable, cryptographic proof of authorship - no wallet popups, no complicated ceremonies, just write and sign.

The Problem This Solves

Ever write something online and wish you had a permanent, tamper-proof receipt proving you wrote it at that exact moment?

Traditional publishing has no built-in proof of authorship. Anyone can copy your words, claim them as theirs, or dispute when you actually wrote something. Digital signatures exist, but they're complicated - requiring browser extensions, wallet connections, and technical knowledge most writers don't have.

Umbrella Blog changes that.

What Makes This Special

This isn't just another WordPress blog plugin. Umbrella Blog combines:

True Native Cardano Integration - Server-side signing using PHP, not browser extensions
One-Click Signing - No wallet popups, no complex words, just click "Sign Post"
Server-Side Wallet - Fund once with a few dollars, sign hundreds of posts
ADA Handle Integration - Your $handle becomes your author identity
Distraction-Free Writing - Markdown + Rich Text editors, no Gutenberg bloat
Cyberpunk UI - Beautiful dark glassmorphic theme with neon accents
Complete SEO Suite - Meta tags, Open Graph, Twitter Cards, JSON-LD
Lightning Fast - Custom database tables, no WordPress CPT overhead

Key Features

Writing & Editing

Dual Editor Modes - Toggle between Markdown (with live preview) and Rich Text
Draft/Publish Workflow - Save drafts or publish immediately
Word Count & Reading Time - Auto-calculated as you write
Categories & Tags - Full taxonomy system with auto-complete
Image Upload - Drag-and-drop image management for posts
Clean Interface - Focus on writing, not fighting with the editor

Cardano Blockchain Integration

How it works:

Unlike traditional EVM chains, Cardano uses a UTXO model - just like shopping at a grocery store with cash. You send a transaction, receive change, and get a receipt. Transactions on Cardano are cheap (around 0.2 ADA) and can contain rich metadata.

The plugin creates a server-side Cardano wallet that you fund with a few dollars. When you click "Sign Post with Cardano" - BAM, done. The server builds the transaction, signs it with your encrypted wallet, and submits it to the blockchain. No browser extension required.

Features:

Cryptographic Signing - Sign published posts on Cardano blockchain
CIP-20 Metadata - Store post metadata permanently on-chain
ADA Handle Support - Use your $handle as author identity
Wallet Management - Generate or import HD wallets (BIP39 24-word mnemonic)
Encrypted Storage - Wallet keys encrypted with AES-256
Mainnet & Preprod - Supports both networks with network-specific API keys
Transaction Verification - Direct links to CardanoScan for signature verification
Immutable Proof - Cryptographic proof of authorship and publication date

Built on:

PHP-Cardano - Native PHP wallet generation and signing
Anvil API - Transaction building and submission
Blockfrost - Blockchain queries and ADA Handle lookup

SEO & Metadata

Complete Meta Tags - Title, description, keywords, robots
Open Graph Protocol - Beautiful previews on Facebook, LinkedIn, Discord
Twitter Cards - Optimized Twitter/X sharing
JSON-LD Structured Data - Google rich snippets for better rankings
XML Sitemap - Auto-generated at /blog-sitemap.xml
Canonical URLs - Prevent duplicate content issues
Focus Keywords - Track primary SEO keywords per post
Character Counters - Live feedback for optimal meta tag lengths

Design & Theming

Cyberpunk Theme - Dark glassmorphic design with neon cyan/magenta accents
Color Presets - 6 built-in themes (Cyberpunk, Matrix, Sunset, Ocean, Purple, Fire)
Custom Colors - Live preview with primary/secondary gradient customization
Responsive Design - Beautiful on desktop, tablet, and mobile
Clean URLs - /blog/ and /blog/your-post-title
Fast Loading - Optimized CSS with backdrop-filter blur effects

Installation

Requirements

WordPress 5.0+
PHP 7.4+
MySQL 5.7+
For Cardano features:
- Blockfrost API key (mainnet/preprod)
- Ada Anvil API key (mainnet/preprod)

Step 1: Upload Plugin

Download the plugin files
Upload to /wp-content/plugins/umbrella-blog/
Or use WordPress Admin → Plugins → Add New → Upload

Step 2: Activate

Go to WordPress Admin → Plugins
Find "Umbrella Blog"
Click Activate

Step 3: Database Setup

After activation, the plugin automatically creates database tables. If you experience issues:

Go to Umbrella Blog → Database Setup
Click "Run Full Setup"

Step 4: Configure Settings

Go to Umbrella Blog → Settings
Set your default network (Mainnet or Preprod)
Add your API keys:
- Blockfrost Preprod/Mainnet keys
- Ada Anvil Preprod/Mainnet keys
Optionally customize color theme

Step 5: Flush Permalinks

Go to Settings → Permalinks
Click Save Changes

This registers the /blog/ URLs.

Cardano Wallet Setup

Generate New Wallet

Go to Umbrella Blog → Wallet Manager
Click "Generate New Wallet" tab
Enter wallet name
Click "Generate Wallet"
IMPORTANT: Copy and securely store your 24-word recovery phrase
The wallet is encrypted and stored in your database

Import Existing Wallet

Go to Umbrella Blog → Wallet Manager
Click "Import from Mnemonic" tab
Enter wallet name
Paste your 24-word recovery phrase
Click "Import Wallet"

Wallet Security

Private keys are encrypted with AES-256
Mnemonics are only displayed once after generation
Never share your recovery phrase
Wallets support both Mainnet and Preprod networks

Multiple Wallets

Create separate wallets for Mainnet and Preprod
Archive unused wallets
Only one wallet can be active per network

Writing Your First Post

Create Post

Go to Umbrella Blog → Add New Post
Enter Title and Excerpt
Choose editor mode:
- Markdown - Clean syntax, live preview, great for code
- Rich Text - Familiar HTML formatting
Write your content

Add Metadata (Sidebar)

Categories & Tags - Organize your content
SEO Basics - Meta title, description, slug, focus keyword
Social Sharing - Custom OG/Twitter images (optional)
Advanced - Canonical URL, robots directive

Save or Publish

Save as Draft - Store privately, continue later
Publish - Make live immediately

Signing Posts on Cardano

Prerequisites

Active wallet for your selected network
Sufficient ADA for transaction fees (~0.2 ADA)
(Optional) ADA Handle in wallet for author identity

Sign a Post

Publish your post first
Go to Umbrella Blog → Blog Posts
Find your published post
Click "Sign on Cardano"
Wait for transaction to be built and submitted
Transaction hash will appear when complete

What Gets Signed

The blockchain transaction includes CIP-20 metadata (label 674):

{
  "674": {
    "msg": {
      "type": "blog_post_signature",
      "version": "1.0",
      "post_id": "123",
      "title": "Your Post Title",
      "slug": "your-post-slug",
      "url": "https://yoursite.com/blog/your-post-slug",
      "published_at": "2025-11-04 12:00:00",
      "author_handle": "$yourhandle",
      "word_count": 1234,
      "excerpt": "Your post excerpt...",
      "signed_with": "Umbrella Blog v1.0"
    }
  }
}

Viewing Signatures

Published posts with signatures display:

Author ADA Handle - With profile image (if available)
Signed Date - When the signature was created
Transaction Hash - Link to CardanoScan for verification
On-Chain Metadata - Expandable view of blockchain data
Immutability Notice - Explanation of blockchain permanence

📝 Markdown Cheatsheet

# Heading 1
## Heading 2
### Heading 3

**bold text**
*italic text*
~~strikethrough~~

[Link text](https://example.com)

![Image alt text](image-url.jpg)

- Bullet point
- Another point

1. Numbered list
2. Another item

`inline code`

```javascript
// Code block with syntax highlighting
const greeting = "Hello World";

Blockquote text

Horizontal rule


---

## 🔧 Development

### File Structure

umbrella-blog/
├── umbrella-blog.php # Main plugin file
├── admin/
│ ├── css/
│ │ └── umbrella-admin.css # Cyberpunk theme styles
│ ├── editor.php # Post editor page
│ ├── post-list.php # Posts listing page
│ ├── wallet-manager.php # Wallet management UI
│ ├── plugin-settings.php # Settings page
│ └── image-upload-section.php
├── includes/
│ ├── WalletController.php # Wallet CRUD operations
│ ├── WalletModel.php # Wallet database queries
│ ├── WalletLoader.php # Wallet decryption helper
│ ├── BlogSigner.php # Cardano signing logic
│ ├── BlockfrostHelper.php # Blockfrost API wrapper
│ ├── SEOMetaTags.php # Meta tag generation
│ └── vendor/
│ ├── CardanoWalletPHP.php # HD wallet derivation
│ ├── CardanoCLI.php # Transaction signing
│ ├── AnvilHelper.php # Anvil API wrapper
│ └── UmbrellaBlog_EncryptionHelper.php
├── templates/
│ ├── blog-list.php # Blog listing page
│ └── single-post.php # Single post view
└── README.md



### Adding Features

The plugin is modular and easy to extend:

- **New admin pages**: Add to `admin/` directory
- **New database tables**: Add to `activate()` in main plugin file
- **New API integrations**: Create helper class in `includes/`
- **New editor features**: Extend `admin/editor.php`

---

## 🤝 Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Whether you're fixing bugs, adding features, or improving documentation.

**Areas for improvement:**
- Additional color themes
- More editor features (table support, footnotes, etc.)
- Enhanced blockchain features (multi-sig workflows, NFT minting)
- Performance optimizations
- Better mobile experience
- Internationalization (i18n)

**Getting Started:**

1. Fork the repository
2. Create a feature branch (`git checkout -b feature/amazing-feature`)
3. Make your changes
4. Test thoroughly on WordPress 5.0+
5. Commit your changes (`git commit -m 'Add amazing feature'`)
6. Push to the branch (`git push origin feature/amazing-feature`)
7. Open a Pull Request

---

## 📄 License

MIT License - see [LICENSE](LICENSE) file for details.

Feel free to use, modify, and distribute this plugin.

---

## 🙏 Credits

**Built with:**
- [Blockfrost](https://blockfrost.io) - Cardano API
- [Ada Anvil](https://ada-anvil.io) - Transaction building
- [marked.js](https://marked.js.org) - Markdown parsing
- [CardanoWalletPHP](https://github.com/adosia/CardanoWalletPHP) - HD wallet derivation
- Ed25519 Pure PHP Implementation

**Inspired by:**
- Cardano's eUTXO model
- CIP-20 (Transaction Message/Comment Metadata)
- CIP-1852 (HD Wallets for Cardano)
- Cyberpunk aesthetics and glassmorphism design trends

---

## 💬 Support & Community

For issues, questions, or feature requests:
- **GitHub Issues**: [Report bugs or request features](../../issues)
- **Documentation**: Check the `/Documentation/` folder for detailed guides
- **WordPress Debugging**: Enable `WP_DEBUG` in `wp-config.php` for detailed error logs

**Get Help:**
- Read `CARDANO_SIGNING_README.md` for blockchain setup assistance
- Check `HANDLE_SELECTION_UPDATE.md` for ADA Handle features
- Review WordPress error logs at `/wp-content/debug.log`

---

## 🚀 Roadmap

**Planned features:**
- Multi-signature post approval workflows
- NFT minting for blog posts (turn posts into NFTs)
- Gated content with token/NFT verification
- RSS feed with blockchain verification hashes
- Archive posts to IPFS for permanent storage
- Reader comments via Cardano transactions
- CIP-8 message signing for portable identity
- Integration with other Cardano DApps

**Want to sponsor a feature?** Open an issue and let's talk!

---

## 🌟 Why This Matters

In a world of AI-generated content, deepfakes, and content theft, having cryptographic proof of authorship matters more than ever.

Every time you sign a blog post with Umbrella Blog, you're creating a permanent, tamper-proof record on the Cardano blockchain that says:
- "I wrote these words"
- "I published them at this exact time"
- "This is the original version"

This isn't just for tech people. This is for writers, journalists, researchers, artists - anyone who creates original content and wants to protect their work.

---

**Built for writers who value authenticity and immutability.**

**Powered by Cardano**

---

## Additional Resources

- **Cardano Official**: https://cardano.org
- **ADA Handles**: https://adahandle.com
- **Anvil API**: https://ada-anvil.io
- **Blockfrost API**: https://blockfrost.io
- **CIP-20 Specification**: https://cips.cardano.org/cips/cip20/
- **CIP-1852 (HD Wallets)**: https://cips.cardano.org/cips/cip1852/

📊 Database Structure

The plugin creates 5 custom tables:

`wp_umbrella_blog_posts`

Main posts table with fields:

Basic: id, title, slug, content, excerpt, status
Editor: editor_mode (markdown/richtext)
SEO: meta_title, meta_description, focus_keyword, canonical_url, meta_robots
Social: og_title, og_description, og_image, twitter_* fields
Stats: word_count, reading_time
Cardano: signature_tx_hash, signature_metadata, signature_wallet_address, signature_handle, signed_at
Timestamps: created_at, updated_at

`wp_umbrella_blog_wallets`

Cardano wallet storage:

id, name, network, status (active/archived)
payment_address, payment_keyhash
mnemonic_encrypted, skey_encrypted (AES-256)
created_at

`wp_umbrella_blog_categories`

Category definitions:

id, name, slug, description

`wp_umbrella_blog_tags`

Tag definitions:

id, name, slug

Relationship Tables

wp_umbrella_blog_post_categories - Many-to-many post ↔ category
wp_umbrella_blog_post_tags - Many-to-many post ↔ tag

🛠️ Technical Details

Cardano Integration

Wallet Generation:

Uses CardanoWalletPHP for pure PHP HD wallet derivation
Implements BIP39 mnemonic generation (24 words)
Derives payment keys using CIP-1852 derivation paths
Supports both enterprise (payment-only) and base addresses

Transaction Signing:

Uses Ed25519 pure PHP implementation for signing
Builds transactions via Ada Anvil API
Signs locally with encrypted wallet keys
Submits to Cardano network via Anvil

Blockchain Queries:

Blockfrost API for address balance, UTXOs, ADA Handles
Ada Anvil for transaction building and submission
Network-aware API endpoint switching

Security Features

AES-256 Encryption for wallet private keys
WordPress nonces for CSRF protection
Capability checks (manage_options) for admin actions
SQL injection prevention via $wpdb->prepare()
XSS protection via esc_html(), esc_url(), esc_attr()
Input sanitization for all form data

Performance Optimizations

No WordPress CPTs - Custom tables for faster queries
Direct database access - No post meta bloat
Minimal dependencies - Only marked.js for Markdown preview
CSS custom properties - Efficient theming system
Debounced auto-save - Reduces database writes

🌐 API Integrations

Blockfrost API

Used for:

Fetching wallet balances and UTXOs
Retrieving ADA Handles from addresses
Verifying transaction confirmations

Required API Keys:

Preprod: https://cardano-preprod.blockfrost.io/api/v0
Mainnet: https://cardano-mainnet.blockfrost.io/api/v0

Get your keys at: https://blockfrost.io

Ada Anvil API

Used for:

Building Cardano transactions
Submitting signed transactions
CIP-20 metadata attachment

API Endpoints:

Preprod: https://preprod.api.ada-anvil.app/v2/services
Mainnet: https://prod.api.ada-anvil.app/v2/services

Get your keys at: https://ada-anvil.io

Frequently Asked Questions

How does content signing work?: When you publish a post, the plugin hashes the content and submits the hash as CIP-20 metadata in a Cardano transaction. This creates an immutable timestamp proving you authored the content.
Do I need a Cardano wallet to use this?: Yes. You need a funded Cardano wallet for signing transactions. The plugin supports both server-side signing and CIP-30 browser wallet signing.
Does this affect my blog's SEO?: Umbrella Blog includes a complete SEO suite with meta tags, OpenGraph, and structured data. Content signing adds credibility without affecting search performance.

Umbrella Blog

Version: v1.1.2
Stack Size: 130 KB
Last Updated: February 23, 2026
Downloads: 4

Download ZIP

SHA-256

c9cdfd999b70f557ba6e62e2fd8fb927a84c92e084f6ddb2fd333a1a6f5e0568

View on GitHub

Trust Model

Installation

Documentation

Umbrella Blog

The Problem This Solves

What Makes This Special

Key Features

Writing & Editing

Cardano Blockchain Integration

SEO & Metadata

Design & Theming

Installation

Requirements

Step 1: Upload Plugin

Step 2: Activate

Step 3: Database Setup

Step 4: Configure Settings

Step 5: Flush Permalinks

Cardano Wallet Setup

Generate New Wallet

Import Existing Wallet

Wallet Security

Multiple Wallets

Writing Your First Post

Create Post

Add Metadata (Sidebar)

Save or Publish

Signing Posts on Cardano

Prerequisites

Sign a Post

What Gets Signed

Viewing Signatures

📝 Markdown Cheatsheet

🎨 Customization

Color Themes

Custom Colors

Network Settings

📊 Database Structure

wp_umbrella_blog_posts

wp_umbrella_blog_wallets

wp_umbrella_blog_categories

wp_umbrella_blog_tags

Relationship Tables

🛠️ Technical Details

Cardano Integration

Security Features

Performance Optimizations

🌐 API Integrations

Blockfrost API

Ada Anvil API

Frequently Asked Questions

`wp_umbrella_blog_posts`

`wp_umbrella_blog_wallets`

`wp_umbrella_blog_categories`

`wp_umbrella_blog_tags`