From c4db98ae00da1d9dadd3d6fe6b25e7dfcc0ed819 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Arthur Abeilice <afa7789@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 29 May 2026 17:48:49 -0300
Subject: [PATCH] feat: add support for private key authentication in
 environment configuration

---
 .env.example      |  1 +
 README.md         |  6 +++++-
 hardhat.config.ts | 14 +++++++++-----
 3 files changed, 15 insertions(+), 6 deletions(-)

diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
index d972d67..d51532c 100644
--- a/.env.example
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 MNEMONIC="{INSERT_12_WORD_MNEMONIC}"
+PRIVATE_KEY="{INSERT_0x_PRIVATE_KEY}"
 
 INFURA_API_KEY="{INSERT_API_KEY}"
 ALCHEMY_API_KEY="{INSERT_API_KEY}"
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 1dc3c8a..a71cfaa 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -67,7 +67,11 @@
 
 ### Pre Requisites
 
-Before installing, create a `.env` file and set a BIP-39 compatible mnemonic and other env criteria as in `.env.example`.
+Before installing, create a `.env` file and set the authentication method and other env criteria as in `.env.example`.
+
+You can authenticate with either:
+- `PRIVATE_KEY` — a raw hex private key (e.g. `0x123...`). Takes priority if both are set.
+- `MNEMONIC` — a BIP-39 compatible 12-word mnemonic phrase. Used as fallback when `PRIVATE_KEY` is not set.
 
 ### Install
 
diff --git a/hardhat.config.ts b/hardhat.config.ts
index 80b961d..99845ec 100644
--- a/hardhat.config.ts
+++ b/hardhat.config.ts
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ const mnemonic: string =
   process.env.MNEMONIC ?? DEFAULT_MNEMONIC;
 const alchemyApiKey: string | undefined =
   process.env.ALCHEMY_API_KEY;
+const privateKey: string | undefined =
+  process.env.PRIVATE_KEY;
 
 const chainIds = {
   // "{INSERT_NAME}": {INSERT_ID},
@@ -43,11 +45,13 @@ function getChainConfig(
   const jsonRpcUrl =
     "https://" + chain + ".g.alchemy.com/v2/" + alchemyApiKey;
   return {
-    accounts: {
-      count: 10,
-      mnemonic,
-      path: "m/44'/60'/0'/0",
-    },
+    accounts: privateKey
+      ? [privateKey]
+      : {
+          count: 10,
+          mnemonic,
+          path: "m/44'/60'/0'/0",
+        },
     chainId: chainIds[chain],
     url: jsonRpcUrl,
   };