Create an Ethereum walletCreate an Ethereum wallet

Ethereum is more than a coin. It is a network on which thousands of tokens and applications run. Your wallet is the connection between you and that network. Your ETH is stored on the Ethereum blockchain: a public ledger that records every transaction. The wallet contains the key that gives you access to it.

Your Ethereum address always starts with "0x", followed by a string of letters and numbers. That address is your fixed position on the network. Share your address with someone and they can send ETH or other tokens to you. Only you can manage those tokens, because only you hold the matching private key.

There are two concepts that matter for your wallet.

1. Your public key is the address you receive Ethereum at. You can share it freely with others, just like you would share a bank account number.

2. Your private key gives you access to your wallet. It always stays secret. Anyone holding this key can manage your Ethereum. Lose it, and you lose access.

When you buy ETH, the transaction is recorded on the Ethereum blockchain and credited to your address. Not on a BTC Direct server, not in an app, but on an open network visible to everyone. Your wallet contains the cryptographic code that identifies you as the owner of that address.

Anyone can see on the blockchain how much ETH is at your address. But only you can do anything with it. Only you have the key needed to sign and send a transaction. Once a transaction is sent, it is final. Always check carefully before you confirm.

Take network fees into account on every transaction. Network fees are the cost the Ethereum network charges to process your transaction. They are always settled in ETH, even when you send a stablecoin or another token. So make sure you always have some ETH in your wallet.

Just getting started with crypto? Choose a mobile wallet for small amounts. Want to use apps on the Ethereum network as well? Then a browser extension like MetaMask is the most convenient choice: it connects directly to the network. Investing more or holding your Ethereum for the long term? Switch to a hardware wallet. Many users combine the two: a browser extension for daily use and a hardware wallet as a vault. Ethereum is supported by every major wallet.

To receive Ethereum, share your wallet address. To send Ethereum, enter the recipient’s address. Always double-check it: an Ethereum transaction is final.

Receive: open your wallet, go to "Receive" and copy your wallet address. That address always starts with "0x". Send it to the sender.

Send: go to "Send", paste the recipient’s address and check it before you confirm.

Always copy and paste. Never type an address manually. A transaction cannot be reversed. Once sent, it is final.

Heads up: network fees on every transaction

Every transaction on the Ethereum network costs gas. Your wallet shows an estimate of the cost before you confirm. Sending a token other than ETH? You still pay the network fee in ETH. Always keep enough ETH in your wallet, even if you only send other tokens.

Watch out with hardware wallets

Always verify your wallet address on the device screen itself. Software on your computer or phone may have been altered by malware. The screen of your hardware wallet shows the real address.

You are fully responsible for your wallet security. A few things to pay attention to.

• Strong PIN or password: choose something you remember but no one can guess. Not your date of birth, not an obvious combination.
• Seed phrase on paper: write it down, store it physically, tell no one. Not in an app, not in the cloud, not by email.
• Two-factor authentication (2FA): activate it via an authenticator app such as Google Authenticator or Authy. Your password alone is not enough if someone intercepts it.
• Only official software: download MetaMask only via metamask.io and other wallets only via the developer’s official website. Fake extensions posing as real wallets are a common trick.
• Verify addresses on your hardware wallet: malware can change addresses in your browser or app. The screen of your hardware wallet always shows the correct address.
• Stay alert to phishing: fake websites and fake extensions posing as MetaMask or other wallets are common. Always check the URL and download only via official sources.
• For larger amounts, always use a hardware wallet.

When you create a wallet, you get one chance to write down your seed phrase. The app or device shows it once. After that it is your responsibility to keep it somewhere safe that you can always find again.

The rules for your seed phrase

• Write the words down by hand on paper, in the order the wallet shows them.
• No photos, no cloud storage, no email. Store it physically only.
• Come across a website or app that asks for your seed phrase? That is a scam. No real wallet ever asks for it.
• Your seed phrase is for you and no one else. Never share it with anyone, not even with BTC Direct customer support.
• Make at least two physical copies and store them in different places.
• Want extra peace of mind? A metal plate of titanium or steel is fire- and waterproof.

Lose your device but still have your seed phrase? You restore everything. Lose both? There is no fix. No customer support, no bank, no exception.