Get Started with Ethereum
Your Journey in 4 Simple Steps
Step 1: Create Your First Wallet
A wallet is your gateway to Ethereum. It's an app that lets you store ETH, interact with applications, and manage your digital assets. Think of it like a digital keychain that holds all your crypto keys.
Recommended Beginner Wallets:
The most popular Ethereum wallet. Works as a browser extension (Chrome, Firefox, Brave) and mobile app. Great for beginners because it's widely supported by nearly every Ethereum app.
Beautiful, user-friendly mobile wallet perfect for beginners. Clean interface and excellent for managing NFTs. Available for iOS and Android.
Self-custodial wallet from Coinbase (separate from the Coinbase exchange app). Easy to use with built-in browser for exploring Ethereum apps.
Important: Make sure you download from the official website. Scammers create fake wallet apps to steal your money. Double-check the URL before downloading.
Step 2: Secure Your Wallet
When you create a wallet, you'll receive a seed phrase (also called a recovery phrase)—usually 12 or 24 words. This is the master key to your wallet. Anyone with these words controls your funds.
Critical Security Steps:
- Write down your seed phrase on paper (not digitally)
- Store it in a safe place (safe, safety deposit box)
- Never take a screenshot or save it on your computer
- Never share it with anyone—not even "support"
- Make multiple backups in different secure locations
If you lose your seed phrase and your device breaks, your crypto is gone forever. If someone steals your seed phrase, they can drain your wallet. This is the most important security step—don't skip it.
Step 3: Get Some ETH
To use Ethereum, you need ETH to pay for transactions (gas fees). You can buy ETH on cryptocurrency exchanges and send it to your wallet.
Popular Exchanges for Beginners:
Most beginner-friendly US exchange. Easy to link your bank account and buy crypto with a debit card. Higher fees but very simple interface.
Lower fees than Coinbase with good security. Slightly more complex but worth learning if you plan to buy regularly.
Low fees and lots of trading options. Good for experienced users, but interface can be overwhelming for beginners.
How to Buy ETH:
- Create an account on an exchange
- Verify your identity (required by law in most countries)
- Link your bank account or debit card
- Buy ETH (start small—$20-50 to learn)
- Send ETH to your wallet address (copy address from your wallet)
Pro tip: For your first transfer, send a small test amount (like $5) to make sure you've got the address right. Once it arrives successfully, send the rest.
Step 4: Start Exploring
Now that you have a wallet and some ETH, you're ready to explore what Ethereum can do. Here are some beginner-friendly places to start:
Instead of a long wallet address (0x742d...), register a human-readable name like "yourname.eth". Makes it easier for people to send you crypto.
Register ENS Name →Swap tokens without a centralized exchange. Uniswap is the most popular and beginner-friendly DEX.
Visit Uniswap →Browse digital art, collectibles, and more. OpenSea is the largest NFT marketplace—no purchase required to look around.
Browse OpenSea →The simplest way to understand Ethereum is to use it. Send a small amount ($5-10) to a friend's wallet and have them send it back. You'll learn how transactions work.
Common Beginner Questions
Start with $20-50. That's enough to cover gas fees for several transactions and let you experiment without risking much. You can always add more later.
Gas fees pay validators who process your transactions and secure the network. Fees vary based on network demand—they can be $1-5 for simple transactions or much higher during busy times. Check current gas prices before making transactions.
Ethereum itself is very secure—it's protected by billions of dollars in staked ETH and thousands of validators. Your safety depends on protecting your seed phrase and avoiding scams. Follow our security guidelines and you'll be fine.
Blockchain transactions are permanent and irreversible. If you send ETH to the wrong address, you can't get it back. This is why we recommend starting with small amounts and always double-checking addresses.
You're Ready to Begin
Take your time, start small, and don't be afraid to experiment. Every Ethereum user started exactly where you are now. The learning curve is real, but so are the possibilities. Welcome to Ethereum.