================================================================ PROJECT CONTEXT: Umbrella Blog Generated from: https://cardanowordpressplugins.com/projects/umbrella-blog/ Date: 2026-02-23 ================================================================ DESCRIPTION ----------- One-click Cardano content signing for WordPress. Prove authorship on-chain with ADA Handle identity and a built-in SEO suite. ABOUT ----- 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. METADATA -------- Version: 1.1.2 Stack Size: 130 KB Last Updated: February 23, 2026 Downloads: 6 GitHub: https://github.com/invalidcredentials/umbrella-blog-cardano-blogging-tool SHA-256: c9cdfd999b70f557ba6e62e2fd8fb927a84c92e084f6ddb2fd333a1a6f5e0568 Download URL: https://cardanowordpressplugins.com/projects/umbrella-blog/download/ TAXONOMIES ---------- Chain: Cardano Category: Content Signing Custody Mode: Hybrid Difficulty: 2 - Easy CIP Standards: CIP-20 TRUST MODEL ----------- Custody Mode: 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 (README) ---------------------- # 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. ![Version](https://img.shields.io/badge/version-1.1.2-00E6FF) ![WordPress](https://img.shields.io/badge/WordPress-5.0+-00E6FF) ![Cardano](https://img.shields.io/badge/Cardano-Enabled-00E6FF) ![License](https://img.shields.io/badge/license-MIT-00E6FF) --- ## 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](https://github.com/CardanoPress/php-cardano) - Native PHP wallet generation and signing - [Anvil API](https://ada-anvil.io) - Transaction building and submission - [Blockfrost](https://blockfrost.io) - 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 1. Download the plugin files 2. Upload to `/wp-content/plugins/umbrella-blog/` 3. Or use **WordPress Admin → Plugins → Add New → Upload** ### Step 2: Activate 1. Go to **WordPress Admin → Plugins** 2. Find "Umbrella Blog" 3. Click **Activate** ### Step 3: Database Setup After activation, the plugin automatically creates database tables. If you experience issues: 1. Go to **Umbrella Blog → Database Setup** 2. Click **"Run Full Setup"** ### Step 4: Configure Settings 1. Go to **Umbrella Blog → Settings** 2. Set your **default network** (Mainnet or Preprod) 3. Add your **API keys**: - Blockfrost Preprod/Mainnet keys - Ada Anvil Preprod/Mainnet keys 4. Optionally customize **color theme** ### Step 5: Flush Permalinks 1. Go to **Settings → Permalinks** 2. Click **Save Changes** This registers the `/blog/` URLs. --- ## Cardano Wallet Setup ### Generate New Wallet 1. Go to **Umbrella Blog → Wallet Manager** 2. Click **"Generate New Wallet"** tab 3. Enter wallet name 4. Click **"Generate Wallet"** 5. **IMPORTANT:** Copy and securely store your 24-word recovery phrase 6. The wallet is encrypted and stored in your database ### Import Existing Wallet 1. Go to **Umbrella Blog → Wallet Manager** 2. Click **"Import from Mnemonic"** tab 3. Enter wallet name 4. Paste your 24-word recovery phrase 5. 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 1. Go to **Umbrella Blog → Add New Post** 2. Enter **Title** and **Excerpt** 3. Choose editor mode: - **Markdown** - Clean syntax, live preview, great for code - **Rich Text** - Familiar HTML formatting 4. 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 1. Active wallet for your selected network 2. Sufficient ADA for transaction fees (~0.2 ADA) 3. (Optional) ADA Handle in wallet for author identity ### Sign a Post 1. **Publish** your post first 2. Go to **Umbrella Blog → Blog Posts** 3. Find your published post 4. Click **"Sign on Cardano"** 5. Wait for transaction to be built and submitted 6. Transaction hash will appear when complete ### What Gets Signed The blockchain transaction includes CIP-20 metadata (label 674): ```json { "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 --- ## 🎨 Customization ### Color Themes **Built-in Presets:** - **Cyberpunk** (Default) - Cyan/Magenta neon - **Matrix Green** - Classic terminal green - **Sunset Vibes** - Warm red/yellow gradients - **Deep Ocean** - Cool blue tones - **Purple Dream** - Purple/violet gradients - **Fire & Ice** - Orange/yellow heat ### Custom Colors 1. Go to **Umbrella Blog → Settings** 2. Scroll to **"Appearance"** 3. Choose a preset or enter custom hex colors 4. See live preview of gradient 5. Save changes ### Network Settings - **Default Network** - Choose Mainnet or Preprod - **API Keys** - Different keys for each network - **Dev Mode** - Use mainnet handles on preprod (for testing) --- ## 📊 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 --- ## 📝 Markdown Cheatsheet ```markdown # 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/ FAQ --- Q: How does content signing work? A: 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. Q: Do I need a Cardano wallet to use this? A: Yes. You need a funded Cardano wallet for signing transactions. The plugin supports both server-side signing and CIP-30 browser wallet signing. Q: Does this affect my blog's SEO? A: Umbrella Blog includes a complete SEO suite with meta tags, OpenGraph, and structured data. Content signing adds credibility without affecting search performance. KEY TERMS (GLOSSARY) -------------------- CIP-20: Cardano Improvement Proposal 20 — a standard for transaction metadata messages, used here to store content hashes as proof-of-authorship. ADA Handle: A human-readable identity system on Cardano (e.g., $yourname) that resolves to a wallet address, used for author attribution. Proof-of-Authorship: A cryptographic proof that a specific piece of content was published by the holder of a specific key, recorded immutably on the Cardano blockchain. ================================================================ END OF CONTEXT ================================================================