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Crypto Wallets
How Bitcoin and altcoin wallets work, which wallet to use, and how to keep your crypto safe. Setup guides, comparisons, recovery, and safety — all in one place.
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20+ guides
All chains covered
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Quick answer
A crypto wallet is a tool that controls an address on a blockchain using cryptographic keys. Your crypto lives on the blockchain, not inside the app. The safest approach: install wallets only from official sources, back up your recovery phrase offline, and treat every approval and signature prompt as a security decision.
Key points
Crypto wallets do not store coins — they store keys that control coins on a blockchain.
Custodial wallets are controlled by a platform. Self-custody wallets are controlled by you. "Not your keys, not your coins."
Hot wallets are connected to the internet. Cold storage keeps keys isolated — used for long-term holding and larger amounts.
Most losses come from fake apps, phishing, and risky approvals or signature prompts — not wallet software failures.
Different ecosystems use different wallets. The right choice depends on what chain and apps you actually use.
For quick definitions — seed phrase, private key, gas fees, token approvals — see the Crypto Glossary.
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How to use this hub
1
Jump to a sectionUse the navigation below to go straight to setup guides, comparisons, recovery, or safety.
2
Read the concepts firstIf you're new, read the key concepts section before picking a wallet or guide.
3
Bookmark this pageNew wallet guides are added here as they go live. This is the wallet directory.
Navigation
Jump to a section
Key Concepts
Understand these before choosing or using a wallet
How wallets work
Public address & private key
Your public address is what you share to receive funds. Your private key is the secret that authorises spending — it must never be shared with anyone, ever.
Recovery
Seed phrase / recovery phrase
A sequence of 12 or 24 words that can recreate your private keys. If you lose it, access can be lost permanently. If anyone else gets it, they can take everything.
Custody choice
Custodial vs self-custody
Custodial means a platform (usually an exchange) holds your keys. Self-custody means you hold them. "Not your keys, not your coins" is the core principle.
Storage choice
Hot wallet vs cold storage
Hot wallets connect to the internet — useful for daily activity but more exposed. Cold storage keeps keys offline. A common setup: hot wallet for activity, hardware wallet for long-term holding.
Main risk on-chain
Token approvals & signatures
Approvals allow a smart contract to spend a token on your behalf. Signatures can authorise actions. Treat every approval and signature prompt as a security decision — if unclear, cancel and check first.
Choosing a wallet
Match wallet to your use case
Bitcoin users, Ethereum/EVM app users, Solana users, and multi-chain users each have different requirements. Start with what you're actually doing — the setup guides below match by chain.
Wallet Setup Guides
Step-by-step guides by ecosystem — pick the one that matches what you use
Setup Guides By Ecosystem
8 guides
MetaMask Wallet Setup And Safety Guide — Ethereum And EVM Apps
Live
Phantom Wallet Setup And Safety Guide — Solana Apps
Live
Phantom Wallet: How To Add Bitcoin — And What Changes In The Wallet
Live
Rabby Wallet Setup And Safety Guide — EVM, Safety-First Alternative
Live
Coinbase Smart Wallet Passkeys Setup Guide — Seedless Login, Recovery, And Common Mistakes
Live
Trust Wallet Setup And Safety Guide — Multi-Chain Beginners
Coming
Solflare Wallet Setup And Safety Guide — Solana Alternative
Coming
Bitcoin Wallet Setup Guide — Beginner Sending, Receiving, Fees, Address Types
Coming
Hardware Wallets & Cold Storage
For long-term holding and larger amounts — keeping keys offline
Cold Storage Guides
3 guides
Ledger Hardware Wallet Setup And Safe Storage Guide
Coming
Trezor Hardware Wallet Setup And Safe Storage Guide
Coming
Hot Wallet Vs Cold Storage Explained — When Each One Makes Sense
Coming
Comparisons & Choosing
Not sure which wallet to use? Start here
Wallet Comparisons
3 guides
Phantom Vs Solflare Vs MetaMask — For SOL And EVM
Live
Best Wallet For Beginners — By Use Case, Not Hype
Coming
Best Wallet For Altcoins — What Matters, What Does Not
Coming
Recovery & Troubleshooting
Lost access, wrong device, drained wallet — what to do
Important
In self-custody, there is no reset process. If the recovery phrase is lost, access can be lost permanently. Back up your phrase offline before anything else.
Recovery Guides
4 guides
Recovering Phantom After Losing A Phone — Seedless Vs Seed Phrase
Live
Wallet Recovery Phrase Mistakes That Lock People Out
Coming
What To Do If You Think Your Wallet Was Drained
Coming
Social Recovery Wallets — Can Friends Replace Your Seed Phrase?
Live
New Wallet Models & Key Management
3 guides
Smart Contract Wallets (AA Wallets) — Account Abstraction Explained
Live
Coinbase Smart Wallet Passkeys Setup Guide — Seedless Login And Recovery
Live
Multi-Party Computation Wallets For Bitcoin — The Next Step After Seed Phrases
Live
Safety & Scam Prevention
The checklist that prevents most losses
7-point wallet safety checklist
Install safety — Install only from official sources and verified app stores. Never from ads or random links.
Backup safety — Write the recovery phrase down offline. Never in screenshots, cloud notes, email drafts, or messaging apps.
Transaction safety — For first-time transfers, send a small test amount before sending the full amount.
Network safety — Always confirm the correct network before sending or receiving. Many losses come from choosing the wrong chain.
App connection safety — Only connect to sites you deliberately chose. Avoid chasing random airdrops and links in replies or DMs.
Permission safety — Limit approvals where possible and review old approvals periodically, especially after using new apps.
Separation safety — Keep long-term holdings separate from daily activity. A second account for testing new apps limits damage if something goes wrong.
Safety Guides
4 guides
Token Approvals Explained — Why Drains Happen
Coming
How To Revoke Token Approvals Safely
Coming
Phishing And Fake Wallet Apps Checklist
Coming
Signature Prompts Explained — What To Sign, What To Avoid
Coming
Mini FAQs
Quick answers to the most common wallet questions
Do crypto wallets store coins?
No. Coins live on the blockchain. A wallet stores the keys that control access to those coins. The app is the control layer — not the vault.
What is the difference between a wallet and an exchange account?
A self-custody wallet means you control the private keys. An exchange account is usually custodial — the platform controls the keys on your behalf. If the exchange fails, your funds can be at risk.
What happens if a recovery phrase is lost?
In self-custody, access can be lost permanently. There is no reset process, no support desk, and no way to reverse it. Write your phrase down offline before using any funds.
Why do people get drained even with a legitimate wallet?
Most losses happen through scams, risky token approvals, and misleading signature prompts — not because wallet software randomly fails. The wallet is secure; the risk is in what you approve.
Is a hardware wallet necessary?
Not for everyone, but it is worth considering for larger long-term holdings. A common setup is a hot wallet for daily activity and a hardware wallet for long-term storage — kept completely separate.
Which wallet should a complete beginner start with?
It depends on what chain you're using. For Ethereum and EVM apps, MetaMask or Rabby. For Solana apps, Phantom. For Bitcoin, a Bitcoin-focused wallet. The setup guides above walk through each one step by step.
Education only. This content does not consider your personal circumstances. Crypto is high risk and you are responsible for your own decisions, sizing and custody. Nothing here is financial or investment advice.
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