Keep getting this error: "NomicLabsHardhatPluginError: Invalid API Key"

[wikisi9]

Hey folks. I spent several hours yesterday trying to figure out why I keep getting the error, but to no avail. This is my last resort. I found some other discussions from last year where people had issues using their etherscan api key on goerli, but apparently that was on etherscan's side. People said there was a banner on etherscan saying they were aware of the problem and were fixing it. There's no banner now, so I'm guessing the issue must be in my code somewhere, which I'll post below. Perhaps someone here can spot the issue that's been eluding me.

Sorry for the screenshots. Wrapping the code in backticks didn't work.

.env file

hardhat.config.js file

deploy.js file

[wikisi9]

Forgot to post the error...

[alymurtazamemon]

@wikisi9 For the API Key value in the hardhat config file you have added the string value and forgot to add the actual variable of ETHERSCAN_API_KEY.

[alymurtazamemon]

@wikisi9 And did you check this pledge THE .ENV PLEDGE?

[wikisi9]

@wikisi9 For the API Key value in the hardhat config file you have added the string value and forgot to add the actual variable of ETHERSCAN_API_KEY.

Holy crap!!! How the hell did I not see that?! Thank you so much sir.

And yes, I know about the .env pledge. Don't worry, it's a brand new metamask wallet and don't use real money with it. Thanks again!!