How can I create a real account using the stellar Horizon API?

Question

I have been practicing with the test-net for a while and creating test accounts with the friendbot. Now I want to create a real account throught the API with the lumens that I already have. Is there any way to do that?

Thanks for your help.

Answer 1

To create a new account you issue a transaction with the CreateAccount operation. It's very similar to a Payment operation, but has the side-effect of creating a new account. This is essentially what friendbot is doing.

You can test this approach on testnet via the laboratory.

1. Generate an account (but don't use friendbot to fund it).
2. Create a new transaction.
   1. The Source account is the account id of the account you are paying from.
   2. Having entered that, the fetch next sequence number button will appear. Click it.
3. Scroll down to the operations drop-down list and choose "Create Account"
   1. Destination is the account id of the account you wish to create (step #1 above)
   2. Nominate a starting balance
   3. Click sign in transaction signer
4. Sign the transaction
   1. Scroll down to the signatures section and add the secret key of the account you are paying from. (Take a moment to make sure you're really on stellar.org)
   2. Click Submit to Post Transaction endpoint
   3. Click submit

Answer 2

After "Create Account", you need to initiate a regular transfer of fund/XLM from already funded account to the "new account". (There is no friendbot for real network !)