What Is Coinbase Smart Wallet?

Coinbase Smart Wallet is a passkey‑based wallet you unlock with Face ID, Touch ID, or a device PIN. No seed phrase by default… recovery uses your passkey and backups. It’s built for everyday crypto use and connects easily to Base and other EVM chains.

Why Use Passkeys

• No seed phrase to write down… fewer ways to lose access.

• Fast login on any device that holds your passkey… secure hardware enclaves handle the signing.

• Built‑in support for Base and popular dapps… fewer pop‑ups, smoother approvals.

What You Need Before You Start

• A Coinbase account to initialise Smart Wallet… ID verification may be required.

• A passkey on your device… iCloud Keychain or Google Password Manager works.

• A small amount of ETH to pay gas when you first transact on Base or another EVM chain.

Set Up Coinbase Smart Wallet (Step By Step)

  1. Open the Coinbase app or smartwallet.coinbase.com… choose Create or Import.
  2. Create a passkey when prompted… allow your device to save it to your password manager.
  3. Pick a recovery method… cloud backup is default… add a second passkey on another device for redundancy.
  4. Set a spending cap if offered… this reduces repeated confirmations for small transactions.
  5. Enable notifications… useful for login approvals and security alerts.

Connect To Base And Other Networks

  1. In the network selector, add or switch to Base… chain ID 8453, ETH as gas.
  2. If a dapp requests a connection, approve in your wallet… confirm you see the correct network name before signing.
  3. For non‑EVM chains, use a separate wallet… Smart Wallet focuses on EVM.

Fund Your Smart Wallet

• On‑ramp… buy ETH or USDC via card or bank inside Coinbase.

• Bridge… move funds from Ethereum, Arbitrum, or other L2s into Base using a reputable bridge.

• Transfer from another wallet… send ETH or tokens directly to your Smart Wallet address.

Tip… test with a small amount first, then send the rest.

Use It With Dapps

  1. Visit a dapp… click Connect… choose Coinbase Smart Wallet.
  2. Approve the connection… review the site name and permissions.
  3. Sign or confirm transactions… check token, amount, gas, and network before you accept.

Smart Wallet vs Coinbase Wallet

• Smart Wallet… passkeys, no seed by default, streamlined dapp flow.

• Coinbase Wallet… traditional self‑custody with seed phrase and broader manual controls.

Choose the one that matches your risk and flexibility needs.

Safety Checklist

• Add a second passkey on a backup device… prevents lockout.

• Protect your device screen lock… your passkey relies on it.

• Review connected sites periodically… disconnect anything you do not use.

• For larger holdings, park funds in a hardware wallet and use Smart Wallet for daily spend.

Troubleshooting

• Passkey not found… ensure iCloud or Google Password Manager is on and synced.

• Cannot connect to a dapp… switch browsers or clear site permissions and reconnect.

• Transaction fails… check gas and network, then retry with a slightly higher fee.

Mini FAQs

What happens if I lose my phone? Add a second passkey on another device and enable cloud backup so you can recover.

Can I export to a seed phrase later? Advanced options may allow migration to a standard wallet… for long‑term storage, keep a separate seed‑phrase wallet.

Does Smart Wallet work on Base only? No… it supports Base and other EVM networks. Always confirm the network in the wallet header before signing.

Are passkeys safe? They use device secure enclaves… safer than passwords and harder to phish when combined with on‑device prompts.

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Educational content only, not financial advice. Recessions bring heightened risk in crypto and traditional markets. Always size positions you can afford to lose, verify providers, and follow local regulations.