The invention provides a powdered starting material for a nickel-based alloy for manufacturing a porous anode of a fuel cell containing 0.5 to 10% by weight of aluminum, titanium and/or zirconium. The powder is manufactured using a mixture of carbonyl nickel powder and a powder of an intermetallic aluminum, titanium and/or zirconium compound having a particle size of 1 to 10 microns. The powder is produced by mixing the carbonyl nickel powder with an amount of an intermetallic compound such that 0.5 to 10% by weight of the desired element or elements is present in the anode material, the intermetallic compound having a particle size of 1 to 10 mm. An anode for a fuel cell can be produced from the powder by applying the powder to a substrate and sintering it at 900.degree. to 1100.degree. C.