diff --git a/tools/cli/README.md b/tools/cli/README.md
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+# RustChain CLI
+
+Command-line network inspector for RustChain. Like `bitcoin-cli` but for RustChain.
+
+## Quick Start
+
+```bash
+# Run directly
+python3 rustchain_cli.py status
+python3 rustchain_cli.py miners
+python3 rustchain_cli.py balance --all
+
+# Or make it executable
+chmod +x rustchain_cli.py
+./rustchain_cli.py status
+```
+
+## Commands
+
+### Node Status
+```bash
+rustchain-cli status
+```
+
+Show node health, version, uptime, and database status.
+
+### Miners
+```bash
+rustchain-cli miners           # List active miners (top 20)
+rustchain-cli miners --count   # Show total count only
+```
+
+### Balance
+```bash
+rustchain-cli balance <miner_id>   # Check specific miner balance
+rustchain-cli balance --all        # Show top 10 balances
+```
+
+### Epoch
+```bash
+rustchain-cli epoch            # Current epoch info
+rustchain-cli epoch --history  # Epoch history (coming soon)
+```
+
+### Hall of Fame
+```bash
+rustchain-cli hall                     # Top 5 machines
+rustchain-cli hall --category exotic   # Exotic architectures only
+```
+
+### Fee Pool
+```bash
+rustchain-cli fees   # RIP-301 fee pool statistics
+```
+
+## Options
+
+| Option | Description |
+|--------|-------------|
+| `--node URL` | Override node URL (default: https://rustchain.org) |
+| `--json` | Output as JSON for scripting |
+| `--no-color` | Disable color output |
+
+## Environment Variables
+
+| Variable | Description |
+|----------|-------------|
+| `RUSTCHAIN_NODE` | Override default node URL |
+
+## Examples
+
+### JSON Output for Scripting
+```bash
+# Get miner count as JSON
+rustchain-cli miners --count --json
+# Output: {"count": 22}
+
+# Get full status as JSON
+rustchain-cli status --json
+```
+
+### Custom Node
+```bash
+rustchain-cli status --node https://testnet.rustchain.org
+```
+
+### Check Your Balance
+```bash
+rustchain-cli balance your-miner-id-here
+```
+
+## API Endpoints Used
+
+- `/health` - Node health check
+- `/epoch` - Current epoch information
+- `/api/miners` - List of active miners
+- `/balance/<miner_id>` - Wallet balance
+- `/api/hall_of_fame` - Hall of Fame leaderboard
+- `/api/fee_pool` - Fee pool statistics
+
+## Requirements
+
+- Python 3.8+
+- No external dependencies (uses only stdlib)
+
+## License
+
+MIT - Same as RustChain
diff --git a/tools/cli/rustchain_cli.py b/tools/cli/rustchain_cli.py
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+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""
+RustChain CLI — Command-Line Network Inspector
+
+A lightweight command-line tool for querying the RustChain network.
+Like bitcoin-cli but for RustChain.
+
+Usage:
+    python rustchain_cli.py status
+    python rustchain_cli.py miners
+    python rustchain_cli.py miners --count
+    python rustchain_cli.py balance <miner_id>
+    python rustchain_cli.py balance --all
+    python rustchain_cli.py epoch
+    python rustchain_cli.py epoch history
+    python rustchain_cli.py hall
+    python rustchain_cli.py hall --category exotic
+    python rustchain_cli.py fees
+
+Environment:
+    RUSTCHAIN_NODE: Override default node URL (default: https://rustchain.org)
+"""
+
+import argparse
+import json
+import os
+import sys
+from datetime import datetime, timedelta
+from urllib.request import urlopen, Request
+from urllib.error import URLError, HTTPError
+
+# Default configuration
+DEFAULT_NODE = "https://rustchain.org"
+TIMEOUT = 10
+
+def get_node_url():
+    """Get node URL from env var or default."""
+    return os.environ.get("RUSTCHAIN_NODE", DEFAULT_NODE)
+
+def fetch_api(endpoint):
+    """Fetch data from RustChain API."""
+    url = f"{get_node_url()}{endpoint}"
+    try:
+        req = Request(url, headers={"User-Agent": "RustChain-CLI/0.1"})
+        with urlopen(req, timeout=TIMEOUT) as response:
+            return json.loads(response.read().decode())
+    except HTTPError as e:
+        print(f"Error: API returned {e.code}", file=sys.stderr)
+        sys.exit(1)
+    except URLError as e:
+        print(f"Error: Cannot connect to node: {e.reason}", file=sys.stderr)
+        sys.exit(1)
+    except Exception as e:
+        print(f"Error: {e}", file=sys.stderr)
+        sys.exit(1)
+
+def format_table(headers, rows):
+    """Format data as a simple table."""
+    if not rows:
+        return "No data."
+    
+    # Calculate column widths
+    widths = [len(h) for h in headers]
+    for row in rows:
+        for i, cell in enumerate(row):
+            widths[i] = max(widths[i], len(str(cell)))
+    
+    # Build table
+    lines = []
+    header_line = " | ".join(h.ljust(widths[i]) for i, h in enumerate(headers))
+    lines.append(header_line)
+    lines.append("-+-".join("-" * w for w in widths))
+    for row in rows:
+        lines.append(" | ".join(str(cell).ljust(widths[i]) for i, cell in enumerate(row)))
+    
+    return "\n".join(lines)
+
+def cmd_status(args):
+    """Show node health and status."""
+    data = fetch_api("/health")
+    
+    if args.json:
+        print(json.dumps(data, indent=2))
+        return
+    
+    print("=== RustChain Node Status ===")
+    print(f"Status:      {'✅ Online' if data.get('ok') else '❌ Offline'}")
+    print(f"Version:     {data.get('version', 'N/A')}")
+    print(f"Uptime:      {data.get('uptime_s', 0):.0f} seconds ({data.get('uptime_s', 0)/3600:.1f} hours)")
+    print(f"DB Read/Write: {'✅ Yes' if data.get('db_rw') else '❌ No'}")
+    print(f"Tip Age:     {data.get('tip_age_slots', 0)} slots")
+    print(f"Backup Age:  {data.get('backup_age_hours', 0):.1f} hours")
+
+def cmd_miners(args):
+    """List active miners."""
+    data = fetch_api("/api/miners")
+    
+    if args.count:
+        if args.json:
+            print(json.dumps({"count": len(data)}, indent=2))
+        else:
+            print(f"Active miners: {len(data)}")
+        return
+    
+    if args.json:
+        print(json.dumps(data, indent=2))
+        return
+    
+    # Format as table
+    headers = ["Miner ID", "Architecture", "Last Attestation"]
+    rows = []
+    for miner in data[:20]:  # Show top 20
+        miner_id = miner.get('miner_id', 'N/A')[:20]
+        arch = miner.get('arch', 'N/A')
+        last_attest = miner.get('last_attest', 'N/A')
+        if isinstance(last_attest, (int, float)):
+            last_attest = datetime.fromtimestamp(last_attest).strftime('%Y-%m-%d %H:%M')
+        rows.append([miner_id, arch, str(last_attest)])
+    
+    print(f"Active Miners ({len(data)} total, showing 20)\n")
+    print(format_table(headers, rows))
+
+def cmd_balance(args):
+    """Check wallet balance."""
+    if args.all:
+        data = fetch_api("/api/hall_of_fame")
+        # Sort by balance/rust score
+        if isinstance(data, list):
+            data = sorted(data, key=lambda x: x.get('rust_score', 0), reverse=True)[:10]
+        
+        if args.json:
+            print(json.dumps(data, indent=2))
+            return
+        
+        headers = ["Miner", "Rust Score", "Attestations"]
+        rows = []
+        for entry in data:
+            miner = entry.get('miner_id', entry.get('fingerprint_hash', 'N/A'))[:20]
+            score = entry.get('rust_score', 0)
+            attests = entry.get('total_attestations', 0)
+            rows.append([miner, f"{score:.1f}", str(attests)])
+        
+        print("Top 10 Balances (by Rust Score)\n")
+        print(format_table(headers, rows))
+    else:
+        if not args.miner_id:
+            print("Error: Please provide a miner ID or use --all", file=sys.stderr)
+            sys.exit(1)
+        
+        data = fetch_api(f"/balance/{args.miner_id}")
+        
+        if args.json:
+            print(json.dumps(data, indent=2))
+            return
+        
+        print(f"Balance for {args.miner_id}")
+        print(f"RTC: {data.get('balance_rtc', data.get('balance', 'N/A'))}")
+
+def cmd_epoch(args):
+    """Show epoch information."""
+    if args.history:
+        # Note: This would need a history endpoint
+        print("Epoch history not yet implemented.", file=sys.stderr)
+        print("Tip: Check /epoch endpoint for current epoch info.")
+        return
+    
+    data = fetch_api("/epoch")
+    
+    if args.json:
+        print(json.dumps(data, indent=2))
+        return
+    
+    print("=== Current Epoch ===")
+    print(f"Epoch:       {data.get('epoch', 'N/A')}")
+    print(f"Slot:        {data.get('slot', 'N/A')}")
+    print(f"Slots/Epoch: {data.get('blocks_per_epoch', 'N/A')}")
+    print(f"Enrolled:    {data.get('enrolled_miners', 0)} miners")
+    print(f"Epoch Pot:   {data.get('epoch_pot', 0)} RTC")
+    print(f"Total Supply:{data.get('total_supply_rtc', 0):,.0f} RTC")
+
+def cmd_hall(args):
+    """Show Hall of Fame."""
+    category = args.category if args.category else "all"
+    data = fetch_api("/api/hall_of_fame")
+    
+    # Handle nested structure
+    if isinstance(data, dict):
+        categories = data.get('categories', {})
+        if category == "exotic":
+            entries = categories.get('exotic_arch', [])
+            # Convert to simple list for display
+            entries = [{'arch': e.get('device_arch'), 'count': e.get('machine_count'), 
+                       'score': e.get('top_rust_score'), 'attests': e.get('total_attestations')} 
+                      for e in entries[:5]]
+        else:
+            # Use ancient_iron as default top list
+            entries = categories.get('ancient_iron', [])[:5]
+    elif isinstance(data, list):
+        entries = data[:5]
+    else:
+        entries = []
+    
+    if args.json:
+        print(json.dumps(entries, indent=2))
+        return
+    
+    if category == "exotic":
+        headers = ["Architecture", "Machines", "Top Score", "Attestations"]
+        rows = []
+        for entry in entries:
+            rows.append([entry.get('arch', 'N/A'), str(entry.get('count', 0)), 
+                        f"{entry.get('score', 0):.1f}", str(entry.get('attests', 0))])
+    else:
+        headers = ["Machine", "Architecture", "Rust Score", "Attestations"]
+        rows = []
+        for entry in entries:
+            machine = entry.get('nickname') or entry.get('miner_id', 'N/A')[:20]
+            arch = entry.get('device_arch', entry.get('device_family', 'N/A'))
+            score = entry.get('rust_score', 0)
+            attests = entry.get('total_attestations', 0)
+            rows.append([machine, arch, f"{score:.1f}", str(attests)])
+    
+    print(f"Hall of Fame - Top 5{' (' + category + ')' if category != 'all' else ''}\n")
+    print(format_table(headers, rows))
+
+def cmd_fees(args):
+    """Show fee pool statistics."""
+    data = fetch_api("/api/fee_pool")
+    
+    if args.json:
+        print(json.dumps(data, indent=2))
+        return
+    
+    print("=== Fee Pool (RIP-301) ===")
+    if isinstance(data, dict):
+        for key, value in data.items():
+            print(f"{key.replace('_', ' ').title()}: {value}")
+    else:
+        print(f"Fee Pool: {data}")
+
+def main():
+    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(
+        description="RustChain CLI - Command-Line Network Inspector",
+        prog="rustchain-cli"
+    )
+    parser.add_argument("--node", help="Node URL (default: https://rustchain.org)")
+    parser.add_argument("--json", action="store_true", help="Output as JSON")
+    parser.add_argument("--no-color", action="store_true", help="Disable color output")
+    
+    subparsers = parser.add_subparsers(dest="command", help="Commands")
+    
+    # status command
+    status_parser = subparsers.add_parser("status", help="Show node health")
+    status_parser.set_defaults(func=cmd_status)
+    
+    # miners command
+    miners_parser = subparsers.add_parser("miners", help="List active miners")
+    miners_parser.add_argument("--count", action="store_true", help="Show count only")
+    miners_parser.set_defaults(func=cmd_miners)
+    
+    # balance command
+    balance_parser = subparsers.add_parser("balance", help="Check wallet balance")
+    balance_parser.add_argument("miner_id", nargs="?", help="Miner ID to check")
+    balance_parser.add_argument("--all", action="store_true", help="Show top balances")
+    balance_parser.set_defaults(func=cmd_balance)
+    
+    # epoch command
+    epoch_parser = subparsers.add_parser("epoch", help="Show epoch info")
+    epoch_parser.add_argument("--history", action="store_true", help="Show epoch history")
+    epoch_parser.set_defaults(func=cmd_epoch)
+    
+    # hall command
+    hall_parser = subparsers.add_parser("hall", help="Show Hall of Fame")
+    hall_parser.add_argument("--category", help="Filter by category (e.g., exotic)")
+    hall_parser.set_defaults(func=cmd_hall)
+    
+    # fees command
+    fees_parser = subparsers.add_parser("fees", help="Show fee pool stats")
+    fees_parser.set_defaults(func=cmd_fees)
+    
+    args = parser.parse_args()
+    
+    if not args.command:
+        parser.print_help()
+        sys.exit(1)
+    
+    # Override node if specified
+    if args.node:
+        os.environ["RUSTCHAIN_NODE"] = args.node
+    
+    args.func(args)
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    main()