diff --git a/docs/demo.md b/docs/demo.md
index 371ab0f..d32482e 100644
--- a/docs/demo.md
+++ b/docs/demo.md
@@ -75,9 +75,6 @@
 - Export required env vars:
 
   ```bash
-  # private key of the existing account
-  export PVT_KEY=<private-key-in-hex-format>
-
   # desired key name
   export KEY_NAME=<key-name>
 
@@ -92,6 +89,8 @@
   ansible-playbook -i localhost, -c local ~/cerc/laconicd-stack/playbooks/validator/create-validator.yml
   ```
 
+  - Input private key of the existing account when prompted
+
 - Check the validator list:
 
   ```bash
diff --git a/docs/run-first-validator.md b/docs/run-first-validator.md
index 9ce040c..686638f 100644
--- a/docs/run-first-validator.md
+++ b/docs/run-first-validator.md
@@ -83,9 +83,6 @@
 - Update `~/cerc/laconicd-stack/playbooks/first-validator/first-validator-vars.yml` with required values:
 
   ```bash
-  # Use the private key of the existing account that was exported in previous steps
-  pvt_key: "<private-key>"
-
   # Path to the generated mainnet genesis file
   # Use the absolute path of generated output directory in the previous steps
   genesis_file: "<absolute-path-to-generated-output-dir>/genesis.json"
@@ -117,6 +114,8 @@
   ansible-playbook -i localhost, -c local ~/cerc/laconicd-stack/playbooks/first-validator/run-first-validator.yml
   ```
 
+  - Input private key of the existing account that was exported in previous steps when prompted
+
 - Check logs to ensure that node is running:
 
   ```bash
diff --git a/docs/run-validator.md b/docs/run-validator.md
index 400a409..8a47aca 100644
--- a/docs/run-validator.md
+++ b/docs/run-validator.md
@@ -74,9 +74,6 @@
 - Export required env vars:
 
   ```bash
-  # Use the private key of the existing account that was exported in previous steps
-  export PVT_KEY=<private-key-in-hex-format>
-
   # desired key name
   export KEY_NAME=<key-name>
 
@@ -91,6 +88,8 @@
   ansible-playbook -i localhost, -c local ~/cerc/laconicd-stack/playbooks/validator/create-validator.yml
   ```
 
+  - Input private key of the existing account that was exported in previous steps when prompted
+
 - Check the validator list:
 
   ```bash
diff --git a/playbooks/first-validator/first-validator-vars.example.yml b/playbooks/first-validator/first-validator-vars.example.yml
index c66ff5f..5df97ac 100644
--- a/playbooks/first-validator/first-validator-vars.example.yml
+++ b/playbooks/first-validator/first-validator-vars.example.yml
@@ -3,6 +3,5 @@ cerc_chain_id: "laconic-mainnet"
 min_gas_price: 0.001
 cerc_loglevel: "info"
 key_name: "laconic-validator"
-pvt_key: ""
 genesis_file: ""
 staking_amount_file: ""
diff --git a/playbooks/first-validator/run-first-validator.yml b/playbooks/first-validator/run-first-validator.yml
index df87d38..8ac9bf6 100644
--- a/playbooks/first-validator/run-first-validator.yml
+++ b/playbooks/first-validator/run-first-validator.yml
@@ -75,19 +75,25 @@
         dest: "{{data_directory}}/{{ mainnet_deployment_dir }}/data/laconicd-data/tmp/genesis.json"
         mode: '0644'
 
-    - name: Fail if pvt_key is not set
+    - name: Prompt for validator private key
+      vars:
+        private_key_prompt: "Please enter your validator private key: "
+      pause:
+        prompt: "{{ private_key_prompt }}"
+        echo: no
+      register: private_key_input
+
+    - name: Fail if private key is not provided
       fail:
-        msg: >-
-          Private key (pvt_key) is not set in first-validator-vars.yml.
-          This is required for creating the gentx.
-      when: not pvt_key
+        msg: "Private key is required for creating the gentx."
+      when: private_key_input.user_input | default('') | trim == ''
 
     - name: Run script to create and collect gentx
       shell: |
         docker run -i \
           -v {{data_directory}}/{{ mainnet_deployment_dir }}/data/laconicd-data:/root/.laconicd \
           -v {{data_directory}}/{{ mainnet_deployment_dir }}/config/mainnet-laconicd:/scripts \
-          -e "PVT_KEY={{ pvt_key }}" \
+          -e "PVT_KEY={{ private_key_input.user_input }}" \
           -e "KEY_NAME={{ key_name }}" \
           -e "CERC_MONIKER={{ cerc_moniker }}" \
           -e "CERC_CHAIN_ID={{ cerc_chain_id }}" \
diff --git a/playbooks/validator/create-validator.yml b/playbooks/validator/create-validator.yml
index feafe29..85317e5 100644
--- a/playbooks/validator/create-validator.yml
+++ b/playbooks/validator/create-validator.yml
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@
     data_directory: "{{ lookup('env', 'DATA_DIRECTORY') }}"
     deployment_dir: "{{ lookup('env', 'MAINNET_DEPLOYMENT_DIR') }}"
     key_name: "{{ lookup('env', 'KEY_NAME') }}"
-    pvt_key: "{{ lookup('env', 'PVT_KEY') }}"
   tasks:
     - name: Fail if DATA_DIRECTORY or MAINNET_DEPLOYMENT_DIR env vars are not set
       fail:
@@ -14,16 +13,22 @@
           Please export both DATA_DIRECTORY and MAINNET_DEPLOYMENT_DIR before running the playbook.
       when: lookup('env', 'DATA_DIRECTORY') == '' or lookup('env', 'MAINNET_DEPLOYMENT_DIR') == ''
 
-    - name: Fail if pvt_key is not set
+    - name: Prompt for validator private key
+      vars:
+        private_key_prompt: "Please enter your validator private key: "
+      pause:
+        prompt: "{{ private_key_prompt }}"
+        echo: no
+      register: private_key_input
+
+    - name: Fail if private key is not provided
       fail:
-        msg: >-
-          Neither private key (pvt_key) is set.
-          Please export PVT_KEY.
-      when: not pvt_key
+        msg: "Private key is required for creating the gentx."
+      when: private_key_input.user_input | default('') | trim == ''
 
     - name: Import private key in laconicd
       shell: |
-        laconic-so deployment --dir {{ data_directory }}/{{ deployment_dir }} exec laconicd "laconicd keys import-hex {{ key_name }} {{ pvt_key }} --keyring-backend test"
+        laconic-so deployment --dir {{ data_directory }}/{{ deployment_dir }} exec laconicd "laconicd keys import-hex {{ key_name }} {{ private_key_input.user_input }} --keyring-backend test"
 
     - name: Run create-validator script
       shell: |