feat: new installs default to the Solana payment chain (v0.12.246)

Brand-new wallets persist payment-chain=solana at generation, gated on
successful Solana derivation (@solana/kit present). Existing installs,
env-var restores, and wallet-recover flows are untouched — absent config
still resolves to base, where pre-existing funds live.

Also removes the /chain command from docs (never registered; use
/wallet solana|base) and documents the new default.

Author: 1bcMax

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -4,6 +4,21 @@ All notable changes to ClawRouter.
 
 ---
 
+## v0.12.246 — August 22, 2026
+
+### Changed — new installs default to the Solana payment chain
+
+Brand-new wallets now persist `payment-chain = solana` at generation time (`generateAndSaveWallet` in `src/auth.ts`), so first-run users start on the Solana gateway (`sol.blockrun.ai`). **Existing installs are completely unaffected** — the `loadPaymentChain()` fallback for an absent `~/.openclaw/blockrun/payment-chain` file stays `base`, which is where pre-existing wallets hold their USDC.
+
+- The default is written **only when Solana address derivation succeeds** (it dynamically imports `@solana/kit`, which plugin installers sometimes drop — see the reinstall workaround in `scripts/update.sh`). If derivation fails, the write is skipped and the user stays on the Base fallback rather than being defaulted onto a chain the proxy can't sign for.
+- Recovery/import flows deliberately do NOT change the chain: `BLOCKRUN_WALLET_KEY` env restore, `wallet recover`, and the legacy `setupSolana` opt-in path all bypass wallet generation, so a restored wallet keeps resolving to wherever its funds already live.
+- `CLAWROUTER_PAYMENT_CHAIN` still overrides the persisted selection in both directions; `/wallet base` switches a new install back at any time.
+- New wallet banner now states the Solana default and how to switch back.
+- Tests: `src/auth.payment-chain-default.test.ts` (fresh generate → solana; saved/env/explicit-base paths untouched; env override wins) + `src/auth.payment-chain-default-failure.test.ts` (derivation-failure guard), and `test/smoke-wallet-scenarios.ts` now asserts the chain file on real disk.
+- Docs: removed the `/chain` command from README and `docs/configuration.md` — it was never a registered slash command (use `/wallet solana` / `/wallet base`); documented the new-install default in README, `docs/configuration.md`, and `skills/clawrouter/SKILL.md`.
+
+---
+
 ## v0.12.245 — August 12, 2026
 
 Catch-up sync to blockrun: one free-model EOL (today's), ten model additions that had never been mirrored, and six stale prices. Catalog is now 70 chat-visible / 5 free, matching blockrun exactly.

README.md

@@ -498,15 +498,14 @@ Request → 402 (price: $0.003) → wallet signs USDC → retry → response
 
 USDC stays in your wallet until spent — non-custodial. Price is visible in the 402 header before signing.
 
-**Dual-chain support:** Pay with **USDC** on **Base (EVM)** or **USDC on Solana**. Both wallets are derived from a single BIP-39 mnemonic on first run.
+**Dual-chain support:** Pay with **USDC** on **Base (EVM)** or **USDC on Solana**. Both wallets are derived from a single BIP-39 mnemonic on first run. New installs default to **Solana**; existing installs stay on **Base** unless switched with `/wallet solana`.
 
 ```bash
 /wallet              # Check balance and address (both chains)
 /wallet export       # Export mnemonic + keys for backup
 /wallet recover      # Restore wallet from mnemonic on a new machine
 /wallet solana       # Switch to Solana USDC payments
-/wallet base         # Switch back to Base (EVM) USDC payments
-/chain solana        # Alias for /wallet solana
+/wallet base         # Switch to Base (EVM) USDC payments
 /stats               # View usage and savings
 /stats clear         # Reset usage statistics
 /exclude             # Show excluded models

dist/cli.js

@@ -57948,6 +57948,14 @@ Then run: npx @blockrun/clawrouter`
     solanaAddress = await getSolanaAddress(derived.solanaPrivateKeyBytes);
   } catch {
   }
+  let solanaDefaultSaved = false;
+  if (solanaAddress) {
+    try {
+      await savePaymentChain("solana");
+      solanaDefaultSaved = true;
+    } catch {
+    }
+  }
   console.log(`[ClawRouter]`);
   console.log(`[ClawRouter] \u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550`);
   console.log(`[ClawRouter]   NEW WALLET GENERATED \u2014 BACK UP YOUR KEY NOW`);
@@ -57960,6 +57968,12 @@ Then run: npx @blockrun/clawrouter`
   console.log(`[ClawRouter]   Mnemonic       : ${MNEMONIC_FILE}`);
   console.log(`[ClawRouter]`);
   console.log(`[ClawRouter]   Both EVM (Base) and Solana wallets are ready.`);
+  if (solanaDefaultSaved) {
+    console.log(
+      `[ClawRouter]   Default payment chain: Solana \u2014 fund the Solana address above with USDC.`
+    );
+    console.log(`[ClawRouter]   To switch to Base, run in OpenClaw: /wallet base`);
+  }
   console.log(`[ClawRouter]   To back up, run in OpenClaw:`);
   console.log(`[ClawRouter]     /wallet export`);
   console.log(`[ClawRouter]`);

dist/cli.js.map

@@ -767,7 +767,11 @@ type PaymentChain = "base" | "solana";
 type ProxyOptions = {
     wallet: WalletConfig;
     apiBase?: string;
-    /** Payment chain: "base" (default) or "solana". Can also be set via CLAWROUTER_PAYMENT_CHAIN env var. */
+    /**
+     * Payment chain: "base" or "solana". New installs persist "solana" at wallet
+     * generation; absent config resolves to "base" for pre-existing installs.
+     * Can also be set via CLAWROUTER_PAYMENT_CHAIN env var.
+     */
     paymentChain?: PaymentChain;
     /** Port to listen on (default: 8402) */
     port?: number;
@@ -895,6 +899,8 @@ declare function savePaymentChain(chain: "base" | "solana"): Promise<void>;
 /**
  * Load the persisted payment chain selection from disk.
  * Returns "base" if no file exists or the file is invalid.
+ * New installs persist "solana" at wallet generation, so an absent file
+ * means a pre-existing install whose funds live on Base.
  */
 declare function loadPaymentChain(): Promise<"base" | "solana">;
 /**
@@ -1488,7 +1494,8 @@ declare function buildPartnerTools(proxyBaseUrl: string): PartnerToolDefinition[
  *   # Install the plugin
  *   openclaw plugins install @blockrun/clawrouter
  *
- *   # Fund your wallet with USDC on Base (address printed on install)
+ *   # Fund your wallet with USDC (Solana for new installs, Base for existing ones;
+ *   # the funding address is printed on install)
  *
  *   # Use smart routing (auto-picks cheapest model)
  *   openclaw models set blockrun/auto

dist/index.d.ts

@@ -57805,6 +57805,14 @@ Then run: npx @blockrun/clawrouter`
     solanaAddress = await getSolanaAddress(derived.solanaPrivateKeyBytes);
   } catch {
   }
+  let solanaDefaultSaved = false;
+  if (solanaAddress) {
+    try {
+      await savePaymentChain("solana");
+      solanaDefaultSaved = true;
+    } catch {
+    }
+  }
   console.log(`[ClawRouter]`);
   console.log(`[ClawRouter] \u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550\u2550`);
   console.log(`[ClawRouter]   NEW WALLET GENERATED \u2014 BACK UP YOUR KEY NOW`);
@@ -57817,6 +57825,12 @@ Then run: npx @blockrun/clawrouter`
   console.log(`[ClawRouter]   Mnemonic       : ${MNEMONIC_FILE}`);
   console.log(`[ClawRouter]`);
   console.log(`[ClawRouter]   Both EVM (Base) and Solana wallets are ready.`);
+  if (solanaDefaultSaved) {
+    console.log(
+      `[ClawRouter]   Default payment chain: Solana \u2014 fund the Solana address above with USDC.`
+    );
+    console.log(`[ClawRouter]   To switch to Base, run in OpenClaw: /wallet base`);
+  }
   console.log(`[ClawRouter]   To back up, run in OpenClaw:`);
   console.log(`[ClawRouter]     /wallet export`);
   console.log(`[ClawRouter]`);

dist/index.js

@@ -158,17 +158,10 @@ Response (dual-chain):
 
 ```bash
 /wallet solana    # Switch to Solana USDC payments
-/wallet base      # Switch back to Base (EVM) USDC payments
+/wallet base      # Switch to Base (EVM) USDC payments
 ```
 
-Or use the `/chain` command:
-
-```bash
-/chain solana
-/chain base
-```
-
-The selected chain is persisted across gateway restarts.
+The selected chain is persisted across gateway restarts (in `~/.openclaw/blockrun/payment-chain`). New installs default to **Solana** (persisted when the wallet is first generated); existing installs without a saved selection stay on **Base**, where their funds already live. The `CLAWROUTER_PAYMENT_CHAIN` environment variable (`solana` or `base`) overrides the persisted selection.
 
 ### Switch Wallets
 

dist/index.js.map

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@blockrun/clawrouter",
-  "version": "0.12.245",
+  "version": "0.12.246",
   "description": "Smart LLM router — save 88% on inference costs. 71 models (5 free), one wallet, x402 micropayments.",
   "type": "module",
   "main": "dist/index.js",